The Lord Carries His People

46:1 Bel1 kneels down,

Nebo2 bends low.

Their images weigh down animals and beasts.3

Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.4

46:2 Together they bend low and kneel down;

they are unable to rescue the images;5

they themselves6 head off into captivity.7

46:3 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob,8

all you who are left from the family of Israel,9

you who have been carried from birth,10

you who have been supported from the time you left the womb.11

46:4 Even when you are old, I will take care of you,12

even when you have gray hair, I will carry you.

I made you and I will support you;

I will carry you and rescue you.13

46:5 To whom can you compare and liken me?

Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!

46:6 Those who empty out gold from a purse

and weigh out silver on the scale14

hire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god.

They then bow down and worship it.

46:7 They put it on their shoulder and carry it;

they put it in its place and it just stands there;

it does not15 move from its place.

Even when someone cries out to it, it does not reply;

it does not deliver him from his distress.

46:8 Remember this, so you can be brave!16

Think about it, you rebels!17

46:9 Remember what I accomplished in antiquity!18

Truly I am God, I have no peer;19

I am God, and there is none like me,

46:10 who announces the end from the beginning

and reveals beforehand20 what has not yet occurred,

who says, ‘My plan will be realized,

I will accomplish what I desire,’

46:11 who summons an eagle21 from the east,

from a distant land, one who carries out my plan.

Yes, I have decreed,22

yes, I will bring it to pass;

I have formulated a plan,

yes, I will carry it out.

46:12 Listen to me, you stubborn people,23

you who distance yourself from doing what is right.24

46:13 I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away;

I am bringing my salvation near,25 it does not wait.

I will save Zion;26

I will adorn Israel with my splendor.”27