Isaiah 46

1Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary beast.

1The gods Bel and Nebo bow down and stoop; their idols are loaded onto animals and cattle. These statues that you used to carry around have become a heavy burden to the tired animals.

2They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

2The idols stoop and bow down together; they cannot save the burden they have become, and the idols themselves are taken away into captivity.

3Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borneby mefrom their birth, that have been carried from the womb;

3Listen to me, descendants of Jacob and all you who remain of the house of Israel. I have supported you since you were born; I have carried you since before you were in the world.

4and even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.

4Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair turns gray, I will carry you. I made you, and I will support you; I will carry you and I will rescue you.

5To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

5To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? With whom will you rank me, as if we were alike?

6Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.

6Some people pour gold out of their bags and weigh out silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith to make it into a god; then they bow down and worship it.

7They bear it upon the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it standeth, from its place shall it not remove: yea, one may cry unto it, yet can it not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

7They lift it up onto their shoulders and carry it; they set it in its place, and there it stands. It cannot move from its spot. Even if someone cries out to it, it does not answer; it cannot save anyone from their troubles.

8Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

8Keep this in mind and stand firm; think about it again, you rebels.

9Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;

9Remember the things that happened long ago. I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me.

10declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;

10I announce the end from the beginning, and from ancient times I tell what has not happened yet. I say, 'My plan will stand, and I will do everything I intend to do.'

11calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.

11I am calling a bird of prey from the east, a man from a distant land to carry out my plan. What I have spoken, I will bring to pass; what I have planned, I will surely do.

12Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:

12Listen to me, you stubborn people who are far from doing what is right.

13I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

13I am bringing my righteousness near; it is not far away. My salvation will not be delayed. I will provide salvation in Zion for Israel, who is my glory.