The Idols of Babylon and the One True God
46 (A)Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
as burdens on weary beasts.
2 They stoop; they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden,
but (B)themselves go into captivity.
3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
(C)who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
4 (D)even to your old age I am he,
and to grey hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
5 (E)“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 (F)Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
(G)then they fall down and worship!
7 (H)They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
(I)it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
or save him from his trouble.
8 “Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, (J)you transgressors,
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
10 (K)declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, (L)‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose’,
11 (M)calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
(N)I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.
12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from righteousness:
13 (O)I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
(P)I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.”
Cross references
- Isaiah 46:1 : Jer. 50:2; 51:44; [ch. 21:9]
- Isaiah 46:2 : [Jer. 48:7; Hos. 10:5, 6]
- Isaiah 46:3 : [Deut. 1:31; 32:11]
- Isaiah 46:4 : [Ps. 71:18]
- Isaiah 46:5 : See ch. 40:18
- Isaiah 46:6 : See ch. 44:10
- Isaiah 46:6 : ch. 44:15
- Isaiah 46:7 : See ch. 45:20
- Isaiah 46:7 : Ps. 115:7
- Isaiah 46:8 : [ch. 43:25]
- Isaiah 46:10 : ch. 41:26
- Isaiah 46:10 : ch. 44:26, 28; Ps. 33:11; Prov. 19:21; [Heb. 6:17]
- Isaiah 46:11 : See ch. 41:2
- Isaiah 46:11 : Num. 23:19
- Isaiah 46:13 : ch. 51:5; [ch. 56:1; Ps. 85:9]
- Isaiah 46:13 : ch. 62:11; [Joel 2:32]