Isaiah 46:1–10

Gods of Babylon

46 Belh bows down, Nebo stoops low;

their idolsi are borne by beasts of burden.a

The images that are carriedj about are burdensome,

a burden for the weary.

2 They stoop and bow down together;

unable to rescue the burden,

they themselves go off into captivity.k

3 “Listenl to me, you descendants of Jacob,

all the remnantm of the people of Israel,

you whom I have upheld since your birth,n

and have carriedo since you were born.p

4 Even to your old age and gray hairsq

I am he,r I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustains you and I will rescue you.

5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?

To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?t

6 Some pour out gold from their bags

and weigh out silver on the scales;

they hire a goldsmithu to make it into a god,

and they bow down and worship it.v

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carryw it;

they set it up in its place, and there it stands.

From that spot it cannot move.x

Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;y

it cannot savez them from their troubles.

8 “Remembera this, keep it in mind,

take it to heart, you rebels.b

9 Remember the former things,c those of long ago;d

I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me.e

10 I make known the end from the beginning,f

from ancient times,g what is still to come.h

I say, ‘My purpose will stand,i

and I will do all that I please.’