1
o 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 p themselves go into captivity.
3
"Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
q who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
4
r even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
5
s "To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?
6
t Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
u then they fall down and worship!
7
v They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
w 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, x 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
y declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, z 'My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
11
a calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
b 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
c I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
d I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory."