46
1 Bel 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.
2 They
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.
4 Even
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?
6 Some 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.
7 They
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.
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 I
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.
11 I
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.
12 Listen
to me,
you stubborn-hearted,
who are far
from righteousness!
13 I
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.