46 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
their idols are on beasts and cattle;
these things you carry are loaded
as burdens on weary animals.(A)
2 They stoop; they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden
but themselves go into captivity.(B)
3 Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from your birth,
carried from the womb;(C)
4 even to your old age I am he;
even when you turn gray I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.(D)
5 To whom will you liken me and make me equal
and compare me, as though we were alike?(E)
6 Those who lavish gold from the purse
and weigh out silver in the scales—
they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god;
then they fall down and worship!(F)
7 They lift it to their shoulders; they carry it;
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
it cannot move from its place.
If one cries out to it, it does not answer
or save anyone from trouble.(G)
8 Remember this and consider;[a]
recall it to mind, you transgressors;(H)
9 remember the former things of old,
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like me,(I)
10 declaring the outcome from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, “My purpose shall stand,
and I will fulfill my intention,”(J)
11 calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man for my purpose from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have planned, and I will do it.(K)
12 Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
you who are far from deliverance:(L)
13 I bring near my deliverance; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not tarry;
I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.(M)
Footnotes
- 46.8Meaning of Heb uncertain
Cross references
- 46.1 : Isa 45.20; Jer 50.2–4
- 46.2 : Jer 43.12, 13
- 46.3 : v 12; Isa 10.21, 22; 45.19; 63.9
- 46.4 : Ps 71.18; Isa 43.13
- 46.5 : Isa 40.18, 25
- 46.6 : Isa 40.19; 44.15, 17
- 46.7 : v 1; Isa 40.20; 41.26, 28; 44.17; 45.20
- 46.8 : Isa 44.19, 21; 48.8
- 46.9 : Isa 41.26, 27; 45.5, 21
- 46.10 : Isa 14.24; 45.21; Acts 5.39
- 46.11 : Isa 18.6; 37.26; 41.2, 25
- 46.12 : v 3; Isa 48.4; Jer 2.5
- 46.13 : Isa 43.7; 44.23; 61.11