Isaiah, 46
1. Bel is crouching, Nebo cowering, their idols are being put on animals, on beasts of burden, the loads you have been carrying are a burden to a weary beast.
1. Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are on beasts and cattle; these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary beasts.
2. They are cowering and crouching together, no one can save this burden, they themselves have gone into captivity.
2. They stoop, they bow down together, they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.
3. Listen to me, House of Jacob, all who remain of the House of Israel, whom I have carried since the womb, whom I have supported since you were conceived.
3. "Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb;
4. Until your old age I shall be the same, until your hair is grey I shall carry you. As I have done, so I shall support you, I myself shall carry and shall save you.
4. even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
5. With whom can you compare me, equate me, to whom can you liken me, making equals of us?
5. "To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?
6. They lavish gold from their purses and weigh out silver on the scales. They engage a goldsmith to make a god, then bow low and actually adore!
6. Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!
7. They lift it on their shoulders and carry it, and put it down where it is meant to stand, so that it never moves from the spot. You may cry out to it in distress, it never replies, it never saves anyone in trouble.
7. They lift it upon their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.
8. Remember this and stand firm; rebels, look into your hearts.
8. "Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9. Remember the things that happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
9. 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. From the beginning I revealed the future, in advance, what has not yet occurred. I say: My purpose will come about, I shall do whatever I please;
10. declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, `My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
11. I call a bird of prey from the east, my man predestined, from a distant land. What I have said, I shall do, what I have planned, I shall perform.
11. calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
12. Listen to me, you hard-hearted people far removed from saving justice:
12. "Hearken to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from deliverance:
13. I am bringing my justice nearer, it is not far away, my salvation will not delay. I shall place my salvation in Zion and my glory in Israel.
13. I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off, and my salvation will not tarry; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory."
