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 bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock. The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary.

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity.

They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone 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, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been carried from their birth, that have been carried from the womb.

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 old age I am he, and even to grey hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.

5 To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

“To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?

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.

Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down— yes, they 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 bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer. It cannot save him out of his trouble.

8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.

“Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, 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 the former things of old; 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 from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.

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 call a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have planned. I will also do it.

12 Hearken to me, ye stout-hearted, that [are] far from righteousness:

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who 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 bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel.