There is No One Like God
46 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.(A)
Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle.
The images you carry are loaded,
as a burden for the weary animal.
2 The gods cower; they crouch together;
they are not able to rescue the burden,
but they themselves go into captivity.(B)
3 “Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.
4 I will be the same until your old age,(C)
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and save you.
5 “Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to?
Who will you measure Me with,
so that we should be like each other?(D)
6 Those who pour out their bags of gold
and weigh out silver on scales—
they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.
Then they kneel and bow down to it.(E)
7 They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;(F)
they set it in its place, and there it stands;
it does not budge from its place.(G)
They cry out to it but it doesn’t answer;
it saves no one from his trouble.
8 “Remember this and be brave;[a]
take it to heart, you transgressors!
9 Remember what happened long ago,(H)
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like Me.
10 I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: My plan will take place,
and I will do all My will.(I)
11 I call a bird of prey[b] from the east,(J)
a man for My purpose from a far country.
Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.(K)
I have planned it; I will also do it.
12 Listen to me, you hardhearted,
far removed from justice:
13 I am bringing My justice near;(L)
it is not far away,
and My salvation will not delay.
I will put salvation in Zion,
My splendor in Israel.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 46:8 Hb obscure
- Isaiah 46:11 = Cyrus
Cross references
- 46:1 : Jr 50:2-4; 51:44
- 46:2 : Jdg 18:17-18, 24; 2Sm 5:21; Jr 43:12-13; 48:7; Hs 10:5-6
- 46:4 : Ps 71:18
- 46:5 : Is 40:18, 25
- 46:6 : Is 40:19; 41:7; 44:12-17; Jr 10:4
- 46:7 : Is 45:20; 46:1; Jr 10:5
- 46:7 : Is 40:20; 41:7
- 46:9 : Dt 32:7; Is 42:9; 65:17
- 46:10 : Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Is 5:19; 14:24; 25:1; 40:8; Ac 5:39
- 46:11 : Is 44:28–45:1
- 46:11 : Nm 23:19; Is 14:24; 37:26
- 46:13 : Is 51:5; 61:11; Rm 3:21