Chapter 46

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 stoop, they bow down together,

they cannot save the burden,

but themselves go into captivity.

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 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 “To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

and compare me, that we may be alike?

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 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 consider,

recall it to mind, you transgressors,

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 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 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 “Hearken to me, you stubborn of heart,

you who are far from deliverance:

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.”