| 1 | Bel bows down, Nebo stoops [gods of Babylon, whose idols are being carried off]; their idols are on the beasts [of burden] and on the cattle. These things that you carry about are loaded as burdens on the weary beasts. |
| 2 | [The gods] stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save [their own idols], but are themselves going 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 borne by Me from your birth, carried from the womb: |
| 4 | Even to your old age I am He, and even to hair white with age will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry and will save you. |
| 5 | To whom will you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we may be alike? |
| 6 | They lavish gold out of the cup
or
bag, weigh out silver on the scales, and hire a goldsmith, and he fashions it into a god; [then] they fall down, yes, they worship it! |
| 7 | They bear it upon their shoulders [in religious processions or into battle]; they carry it and set it down in its place, and there it stands. It cannot move from its place. Even if one cries to it for help, yet [the idol] cannot answer or save him out of his distress. |
| 8 | [Earnestly] remember this, be ashamed
and
own yourselves guilty; bring it again to mind
and
lay it to heart, O you rebels! |
| 9 | [Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me, |
| 10 | Declaring the end
and
the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure
and
purpose, |
| 11 | Calling a ravenous bird from the east—the man [Cyrus] who executes My counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, and I will do it. |
| 12 | Listen to Me, you stiff-hearted
and
you who have lost heart, you who are far from righteousness (from uprightness and right standing with God, and from His righteous deliverance). |
| 13 | I bring near My righteousness [in the deliverance of Israel], it will not be far off; and My salvation shall not tarry. And I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory [yes, give salvation in Zion and My glory to Israel]. |
Cross references:
-
Isaiah 46:5 : Isa. 40:18-20.
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