1 Bel is bent down, Nebo is falling; their images are on the beasts and on the cattle: the things which you took about have become a weight to the tired beast.2 They are bent down, they are falling together: they were not able to keep their images safe, but they themselves have been taken prisoner.3 Give ear to me, O family of Jacob, and all the rest of the people of Israel, who have been supported by me from their birth, and have been my care from their earliest days:4 Even when you are old I will be the same, and when you are grey-haired I will take care of you: I will still be responsible for what I made; yes, I will take you and keep you safe.5 Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?6 As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.7 They put him on their backs, and take him up, and put him in his fixed place, from which he may not be moved; if a man gives a cry for help to him, he is unable to give an answer, or get him out of his trouble.8 Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.9 Let the things which are past come to your memory: for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me;10 Making clear from the first what is to come, and from past times the things which have not so far come about; saying, My purpose is fixed, and I will do all my pleasure;11 Sending for a bird of strong flight from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country; I have said it, and I will give effect to it; the thing designed by me will certainly be done.12 Give ear to me, you feeble-hearted, who have no faith in my righteousness:13 My righteousness is near, it is not far off; salvation will come quickly; and I will make Zion free, and give Israel my glory.
1 Bel is bowed down, Nebo bendeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things ye carried are laid on, a burden to the weary {beast}.2 They bend, they are bowed down together; they could not deliver the burden, and themselves are gone into captivity.3 Hearken unto me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, ye who have been borne from the belly, who have been carried from the womb:4 Even to old age, I {am} HE, and unto hoary hairs I will carry {you}: It is I that have made, and I will bear, and I will carry, and will deliver.5 To whom will ye liken me and make me equal, or compare me, that we may be like?6 -They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance; they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a *god: they fall down, yea, they worship.7 They bear him on the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place; there he standeth, he doth not remove from his place: yea, one crieth unto him, and he answereth not; he saveth him not out of his trouble.8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men; call it to mind, ye transgressors.9 Remember the former things of old; for I {am} *God, and there is none else; {I am} God, and there is none like me;10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.12 Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not delay; and I will give salvation in Zion, {and} unto Israel my glory.