Isaiah 46
1 Bowed down hath Bel, stooping is Nebo, Their idols have been for the beast and for cattle, Your burdens are loaded, a burden to the weary.
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are carried by animals and beasts of burden. These idols that you carry are a heavy burden for weary animals.
2 They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And themselves into captivity have gone.
Together they bend low, kneel down; they cannot rescue the images, and they themselves have gone off into captivity.
3 Hearken unto Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of Israel, Who are borne from the belly, Who are carried from the womb,
Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been carried by me from before your birth, carried from the womb.
4 Even to old age I [am] He, and to grey hairs I carry, I made, and I bear, yea, I carry and deliver.
Even to your old age I am he, and until your hair is gray I will carry you. I made you and I will bear you; I will carry you and I will rescue you.
5 To whom do ye liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
To whom will you compare me? Who do you think I resemble, so that we may be compared?
6 — They are pouring out gold from a bag, And silver on the beam they weigh, They hire a refiner, and he maketh it a god, They fall down, yea, they bow themselves.
People pour out gold from the bag and weigh silver on the scale. They hire a metalsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down and worship it.
7 They lift him up on the shoulder, They carry him, and cause him to rest in his place, And he standeth, from his place he moveth not, Yea, one crieth unto him, and he answereth not, From his adversity he saveth him not.
They lift it on their shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place, and it stands in its place and does not move from it. They cry out to it, but it cannot answer nor save anyone from his trouble.
8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.
Think about these things; never ignore them, you rebels!
9 Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God — and there is none like Me.
Think about the earlier things, those of times past, for I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is no one like me.
10 Declaring from the beginning the latter end, And from of old that which hath not been done, Saying, 'My counsel doth stand, And all My delight I do.'
I announce the end from the beginning, and beforehand what has not yet happened; I say, “My plan will happen, and I will do as I desire.”
11 Calling from the east a ravenous bird, From a far land the man of My counsel, Yea, I have spoken, yea, I bring it in, I have formed [it], yea, I do it.
I call a bird of prey from the east, the man of my choice from a distant land; yes, I have spoken; I will also accomplish it; I have purposed, I will also do it.
12 Hearken unto Me, ye mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.
Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are far from doing what is right.
13 I have brought near My righteousness, It is not far off, And My salvation — it doth not tarry, And I have given in Zion salvation, To Israel My glory!
I am bringing my righteousness near; it is not far away, and my salvation does not wait; and I will give salvation to Zion and my beauty to Israel.
