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False Gods Are Useless

46 Bel and Nebo bow down.
    Their idols are carried by animals.
The statues are only heavy loads that must be carried.
    They only make people tired.
These false gods will all bow down.
    They cannot save themselves.
    They will all be carried away like prisoners.

“Family of Jacob, listen to me!
    All you people from Israel who are still alive, listen!
I have carried you since you were born.
    I have taken care of you from your birth.
Even when you are old, I will take care of you.
    Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.
I made you and will take care of you.
    I will carry you, and I will save you.

“Can you compare me to anyone?
    No one is equal to me or like me.
Some people are rich with gold.
    They weigh their silver on the scales.
They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god.
    Then they bow down and worship it.
They put it on their shoulders and carry it.
    They set it in its place, and there it stands.
    It cannot move from its place.
People may yell at it, but it cannot answer.
    It cannot save people from their troubles.

“Remember this, and do not forget it!
    Think about these things, you who turn against God.
Remember what happened long ago.
    Remember that I am God. There is no other God.
    I am God. There is no one like me.
10 From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end.
    A long time ago I told you things that have not yet happened.
When I plan something, it happens.
    I do the things I want to do.
11 I am calling a man from the east to carry out my plan.
    He will come like a hawk from a country far away.
I will make what I have said come true.
    I will do what I have planned.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn people.
    You are far from what is right.
13 I will soon do the things that are right.
    I will bring salvation soon.
I will save Jerusalem.
    And I will bring glory to 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