Babylon’s Idols and the True God

¹Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;

Their idols are on the beasts [of burden] and on the cattle.

Your burdens [of idols] are loaded [on them],

Burdens on the weary animals .

²They stooped over, they have bowed down together;

They could not rescue the burden [of their own idols],

But have themselves gone into captivity.

³¶“Listen to Me,” [says the Lord ], “O house of Jacob,

And all the remnant of the house of Israel,

You who have been carried by Me from your birth

And have been carried [in My arms] from the womb,

⁴Even to your old age I am He,

And even to your advanced old age I will carry you!

I have made you, and I will carry you;

Be assured I will carry you and I will save you .

⁵¶“To whom would you liken Me

And make Me equal and compare Me,

That we may be alike? [Is 40:18-20]

⁶“Those who lavish gold from the bag

And weigh out silver on the scales

Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;

They bow down, indeed they worship it.

⁷“They lift it on their shoulders [in religious processions or into battle] and carry it;

They set it in its place and there it remains standing.

It cannot move from its place.

Even if one cries to it [for help], the idol cannot answer;

It cannot save him from his distress.

⁸¶“Remember this, and take courage;

Take it to heart, you rebellious and disloyal people.

⁹“Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past;

For I am God, and there is no one else;

I am God, and there is no one like Me,

¹⁰Declaring the end and the result from the beginning,

And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done,

Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,

And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’

¹¹Calling a bird of prey from the east,

From a far country, the man (Cyrus) of My purpose.

Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, be assured I will do it.

¹²¶“Listen to Me, you stiff-necked people ,

You who are far from righteousness (right standing with God).

¹³“I bring near My righteousness [in the salvation of Israel], it is not far away;

And My salvation will not delay.

And I will grant salvation in Zion,

And My glory for Israel.