Isaiah 46
1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your loads [were] heavy; [they were] a burden to the weary [beast].
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity.
The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.
3 Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the birth, which are carried from the womb:
“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.
4 And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he; and [even] to hoary hairs will I carry [you]: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver [you].
Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
5 To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yes, they worship.
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yes, [one] shall cry to him, yet he cannot answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.
Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!
9 Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; I [am] God, and [there is] none like me,
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yes, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also perform it.
I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
12 Hearken to me, ye stout-hearted, that [are] far from righteousness:
Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:
13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not delay: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
