Isaiah 46:1–7

Gods of Babylon

46Bel^h bows down, Nebo stoops low;

their idolsⁱ are borne by beasts of burden.^a

The images that are carried^j about are burdensome,

a burden for the weary.

²They stoop and bow down together;

unable to rescue the burden,

they themselves go off into captivity.^k

³“Listen^l to me, you descendants of Jacob,

all the remnant^m of the people of Israel,

you whom I have upheld since your birth,ⁿ

and have carried^o since you were born.^p

⁴Even to your old age and gray hairs^q

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

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain^s 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

⁶Some pour out gold from their bags

and weigh out silver on the scales;

they hire a goldsmith^u to make it into a god,

and they bow down and worship it.^v

⁷They lift it to their shoulders and carry^w 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 save^z them from their troubles.