Isaiah 46:1-13
46 Bel bends down,+ Neʹbo stoops over.
Their idols are loaded on animals, on beasts of burden,+Like baggage that burdens the weary animals.
2 They stoop and bend down together;They cannot rescue the loads,*And they themselves* go into captivity.
3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, and all you who remain of the house of Israel,+You whom I have supported from birth and carried from the womb.+
4 Until you grow old I will be the same;+Until your hair is gray I will keep bearing you.
As I have done, I will carry you and bear you and rescue you.+
5 To whom will you liken me or make me equal or compare me,+So that we should resemble each other?+
6 There are those who lavish gold from their purse;They weigh out the silver on the scale.
They hire a metalworker, and he makes it into a god.+
Then they prostrate themselves, yes, they worship it.*+
7 They lift it to their shoulders;+They carry it and put it in its place, and it just stands there.
It does not move from its place.+
They cry out to it, but it does not answer;It cannot rescue anyone from distress.+
8 Remember this, and take courage.
Take it to heart, you transgressors.
9 Remember the former* things of long ago,That I am God,* and there is no other.
I am God, and there is no one like me.+
10 From the beginning I foretell the outcome,And from long ago the things that have not yet been done.+
I say, ‘My decision* will stand,+And I will do whatever I please.’+
11 I am calling a bird of prey from the sunrise,*+From a distant land the man to carry out my decision.*+
I have spoken, and I will bring it about.
I have purposed it, and I will also carry it out.+
12 Listen to me, you who are stubborn* of heart,You who are far away from righteousness.
13 I have brought my righteousness near;It is not far away,And my salvation will not delay.+
I will grant salvation in Zion, my splendor to Israel.”+
Footnotes
^ That is, the idols loaded on the animals.
^ Or “their souls.”
^ Lit., “bow down to it.”
^ Lit., “first.”
^ Or “the Divine One.”
^ Or “purpose; counsel.”
^ Or “east.”
^ Or “purpose; counsel.”
^ Lit., “powerful.”