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 has fallen, Nabo is broken to pieces, their graven images are gone to the wild beasts and the cattle: you take them packed up as a burden to the weary, exhausted, hungry, and [at the same time] helpless man;
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity.
who will not be able to save themselves from war, but they themselves are led [away] captive.
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:
Hear me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of Israel, who are borne [by me] from the womb, and taught [by me] from infancy, [even] to old age:
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].
I am [he]; and until you shall have grown old, I am [he]: I bear you, I have made, and I will relieve, I will take up and save you.
5 To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom have you compared me? see, consider, you that go astray.
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 that furnish gold out of a purse, and silver by weight, will weigh it in a scale, and they hire a goldsmith and make idols, and bow down, and worship them.
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 bear it upon the shoulder, and go; and if they put it upon its place, it remains, it can’t move: and whoever shall cry to it, it can’t hear; it can’t save him from trouble.
8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.
Remember you these things, and groan: repent, you that have gone astray, return in your heart;
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,
and remember the former things [that were] of old: for I am God, and there is none other beside 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:
telling beforehand the latter events before they come to pass, and they are accomplished together: and I said, all my counsel shall stand, and I will do all things that I have planned:
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.
calling a bird from the east, and from a land afar off, for the things which I have planned: I have spoken, and brought [him]; I have created and made [him]; I have brought him, and prospered his way.
12 Hearken to me, ye stout-hearted, that [are] far from righteousness:
Listen to me, you senseless ones, that are far 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 have brought near my righteousness, and I will not be slow with the salvation that is from me: I have given salvation in Sion to Israel for glory.
