Isaiah 46

Babylon’s Idols

46Bel bows down;

Nebo is stooping.

Their idols are on^a animals^b and on^c cattle;

your cargo^d is carried as a burden on^e weary animals.

²They stoop;

they bow down together.

They are not able to save the burden,

but^f they themselves go^g in captivity.

³“Listen to me, house of Jacob,

and all the remnant of the house of Israel

who have been carried from the belly,

who have been carried from the womb:

⁴Even^h to your old age I am he;

evenⁱ to your advanced age I myself will support you.

I myself have made you,

and I myself will carry you,

and I myself will support you,

and I will save you.

⁵To whom will you liken me,

and count as equal,

and compare with me,

as though^j we were alike?

⁶Those who lavish gold from the purse

and weigh out silver in the balance scales;

hire a goldsmith^k

and he makes him a god;

they bow down,

indeed they bow in worship.

⁷They carry it on their shoulder;

they support it and they set it in its place,

and it stands in position.

It cannot be removed from its place;

even when he cries out to it, it does not answer.

It does not save him from his trouble.

⁸Remember this and pluck up courage!

Call to mind,^l you transgressors!

⁹Remember the former things from a long time ago,^m

for I am God and there is none besides me,

God and there is none like me,

¹⁰who from the beginning declares the end,

and from before, things that have not been done,

who says, ‘My plan shall stand,’

and, ‘I will accomplishⁿ all my wishes,’^o

¹¹who calls a bird of prey from the east,

the man of his^p plan from a country from afar.

Indeed I have spoken; indeed I will bring it to being.

I have formed it; indeed I will do it.

¹²Listen to me, strong of heart,

far from righteousness!

¹³I bring my righteousness near; it is not far.

And my salvation will not delay;

and I will put^q salvation in Zion,

for Israel my glory.”