Isaiah 46

Babylon’s Idols and the True God

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

3“5Listen to Me, house of Jacob, And all 6the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been 7carried 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 13carry you! I have 14done it, and I will bear you; And I will 15carry you and I will save you.

5“16To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal, and compare Me, That we would be alike?6Those who 17lavish gold from the bag And weigh silver on the scale, Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They 18bow down, indeed they worship it.7They 19lift it on the shoulder, carry it, And set it in its place, and it stands there. 20It does not move from its place. Though one may shout to it, it 21cannot answer; It 22cannot save him from his distress.

8“23Remember this, and be 24assured; 25Recall it to 26mind, you 27wrongdoers.9Remember the 28former things long past, For I am God, and there is 29no other; I am God, and there is 30no one like Me,10Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘31My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;11Calling a 32bird of prey from the 33east, The man of 34My purpose from a distant country. Truly I have 35spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, I will certainly do it.

12“36Listen to Me, you 37stubborn-minded, Who are 38far from righteousness.13I 39bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant 40salvation in Zion, And My 41glory for Israel.