Isaiah 46

¹Bel bows down .

Nebo stoops .

Their idols are carried by animals ,

and on the livestock.

The things that you carried around are heavy loads ,

a burden for the weary .

²They stoop and they bow down together .

They could not deliver the burden ,

but they have gone into captivity .

³“Listen to me , house of Jacob ,

and all the remnant of the house of Israel ,

that have been carried from their birth,

that have been carried from the womb .

⁴Even to old age I am he ,

and even to gray hairs I will carry you .

I have made , and I will bear .

Yes, I will carry , and will deliver .

⁵“To whom will you compare me , and consider my equal ,

and compare me , as if we were the same?

⁶Some pour out gold from the bag ,

and weigh silver in the balance .

They hire a goldsmith ,

and he makes it a god.

They fall down —

yes, they worship .

⁷They bear it on their shoulder .

They carry it , and set it in its place , and it stands there .

It cannot move from its place .

Yes, one may cry to it , yet it can not answer .

It cannot save him out of his trouble .

⁸“Remember this , and show yourselves men.

Bring it to mind again , you transgressors .

⁹Remember the former things of old ;

for I am God, and there is no other .

I am God, and there is none like me .

¹⁰I declare the end from the beginning ,

and from ancient times things that are not yet done .

I say: My counsel will stand ,

and I will do all that I please.

¹¹I call a ravenous bird from the east ,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

Yes, I have spoken .

I will also bring it to pass .

I have planned .

I will also do it .

¹²Listen to me , you stubborn-hearted,

who are far from righteousness !

¹³I bring my righteousness near .

It is not far off ,

and my salvation will not wait.

I will grant salvation to Zion ,

my glory to Israel .