Isaiah 46

1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols were upon the beasts and upon the cattle. Your carriages were heavy laden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

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

3 "Hearken unto Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are borne by Me from the belly, who are carried from the womb:

4 And even to your old age I am He, and even to hoary hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

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

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

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

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

9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none other; I am God, and there is none like Me,

10 declaring the end 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,'

11 calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth My counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

12 "Hearken unto Me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

13 I 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.