Isaiah 46

Babylon’s Idols and the True God

11Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over; Their images are consigned to the beasts and the cattle. The things 2that you carry are burdensome, A load for the weary beast.2They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden, But 3have themselves 4gone into captivity.

3“5Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all 6the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been 7borne by Me from 8birth And have been carried from the womb;4Even to your old age 9I 10will be the same, And even to your 1112graying years I will bear you! I have 13done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.

5“14To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike?6Those who 15lavish gold from the purse And weigh silver on the scale Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They 16bow down, indeed they worship it.7They 17lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; They set it in its place and it stands there. 18It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it 19cannot answer; It 20cannot deliver him from his distress.

8“21Remember this, and be 22assured; 23Recall it to 24mind, you 25transgressors.9Remember the 26former things long past, For I am God, and there is 27no other; I am God, and there is 28no one like Me,10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘29My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;11Calling a 30bird of prey from the 31east, The man of 32My purpose from a far country. Truly I have 33spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

12“34Listen to Me, you 35stubborn-minded, Who are 36far from righteousness.13I 37bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant 38salvation in Zion, And My 39glory for Israel.