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Idols a Weary Burden

46 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops over.
Their idols are for beasts and cattle.
The things you carry are borne
    as burdens on weary beasts.
They stoop, they bow down together,
they cannot save the burden,
but themselves go into captivity.
“Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
    borne by Me from birth,
    carried from the womb.
Even to your old age I will be the same,
until you are gray I will carry you.
I have done it; I will bear you;
I will carry you; I will deliver you.
To whom will you liken Me,
or make Me equal or compare Me,
that we should be alike?
They lavish gold from a purse
and weigh out silver on the scales.
They hire a goldsmith so he makes a god.
They bow down. Yes, they worship it.
They lift it upon a shoulder and carry it.
They set in its place and there it stands.
It does not budge from its place.
Even if one cry to it, it cannot answer,
    nor save anyone from his trouble.”

Purpose for Cyrus

“Remember this, and be assured.
Recall it to mind, you transgressors.
Remember the former things of old:
For I am God—there is no other.
I am God, and there is none like Me—
10 declaring the end from the beginning,
from ancient time, what is yet to come,
saying, “My purpose will stand,
and I will accomplish all that I please.”
11 From the east I am calling a bird of prey,
a man for My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; I will bring it to pass;
I have planned it; surely I will do it.
12 Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted,
who are far from righteousness:
13 I bring My justice near, it is not far off.
So My salvation will not delay.
I put salvation in Zion,
    My glory in Israel.”

Gods of Babylon

46 Bel(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols(B) are borne by beasts of burden.[a]
The images that are carried(C) about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.
They stoop and bow down together;
    unable to rescue the burden,
    they themselves go off into captivity.(D)

“Listen(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,(G)
    and have carried(H) since you were born.(I)
Even to your old age and gray hairs(J)
    I am he,(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain(L) you and I will rescue you.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(M)
Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(N) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.(O)
They lift it to their shoulders and carry(P) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(Q)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(R)
    it cannot save(S) them from their troubles.

“Remember(T) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.(U)
Remember the former things,(V) those of long ago;(W)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.(X)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,(Y)
    from ancient times,(Z) what is still to come.(AA)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,(AB)
    and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon(AC) a bird of prey;(AD)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,(AE) that I will do.(AF)
12 Listen(AG) to me, you stubborn-hearted,(AH)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.(AI)
13 I am bringing my righteousness(AJ) near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation(AK) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,(AL)
    my splendor(AM) to Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle