Babylon’s Idols and the True God

1Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;

Their images are on the beasts and the cattle.

The things [†]that you carry are burdensome,

A load for the weary beast.

2They stooped over, they have bowed down together;

They could not rescue the load,

But [†]have themselves gone into captivity.

3“Hear Me, O house of Jacob,

And all the remnant of the house of Israel,

You who have been burdening Me from [†]birth

And have been carried from the womb;

4Even to your old age [†]I will be the same,

And even to your [†]graying years I will bear you!

I have [†]done it, and I will carry you;

And I will bear you, and I will rescue you.

5“To whom would you liken Me

And make Me equal and compare Me,

That we would be alike?

6Those who lavish gold from the purse

And weigh silver on the scale,

They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;

They fall down, indeed they worship it.

7They carry it upon the shoulder and bear it;

They set it in its place, and it stands there.

It does not move from its place.

Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer;

It cannot save him from his distress.

8“Remember this, and be [†]assured;

Cause it to return to your heart, you transgressors.

9Remember the former things long past,

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like Me,

10Declaring the end from the beginning,

And from ancient times things which have not been done,

Saying, ‘My counsel will be established,

And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’,

11Calling a bird of prey from the east,

The man of [†]My counsel from a far country.

Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.

I have formed it, surely I will do it.

12“Hear Me, you stubborn of heart,

Who are far from righteousness.

13I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;

And My salvation will not delay.

And I will grant salvation in Zion,

And My glory for Israel.