Isaiah 46

1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary beast.2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borne by me from their birth, that have been carried from the womb;4 and even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.5 To whom will ye like me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?6 Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.7 They bear it upon the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it standeth, from its place shall it not remove: yea, one may cry unto it, yet can it not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.8 Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;11 calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.12 Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:13 I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

ISAIAH 46

Babylonia's Gods //Are Helpless

The [Lord] said:

1 The gods Bel and Nebot
are down on their knees,
as wooden images of them
are carried away
on weary animals.t

2 They are down on their knees
to rescue the heavy load,
but the images are still taken
to a foreign country.

3 You survivors in Israel,
listen to me, the [Lord].
Since the day you were born,
I have carried you along.

4 I will still be the same
when you are old and gray,
and I will take care of you.
I created you. I will carry you
and always keep you safe.

5 Can anyone compare with me?
Is anyone my equal?

6 Some people hire a goldsmith
and give silver and gold
to be formed into an idol
for them to worship.

7 They carry the idol
on their shoulders,
then put it on a stand,
but it cannot move.
They call out to the idol
when they are in trouble,
but it doesn't answer,
and it cannot help.

8 Now keep this in mind, t
you sinful people.
And don't ever forget it.

The [Lord] Alone Is God

9 I alone am God!
There are no other gods;
no one is like me.
Think about what happened
many years ago.

10 From the very beginning,
I told what would happen
long before it took place.
I kept my word

11 and brought
someone from a distant land
to do what I wanted.
He attacked from the east,
like a hawk swooping down.
Now I will keep my promise
and do what I planned.

12 You people are stubborn
and far from being safe,
so listen to me.

13 I will soon come to save you.
I am not far away
and will waste no time;
I take pride in Israel
and will save Jerusalem.