Isaiah 46

There Is No One Like God

1 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.  * 46:1 Jr 50:2–4; 51:44

Idols depicting them are consigned to beasts and cattle.

The images you carry are loaded,

as a burden for the weary animal.

2 The gods cower; they crouch together;

they are not able to rescue the burden,

but they themselves go into captivity.  * 46:2 Jdg 18:17–18,24; 2Sm 5:21; Jr 43:12–13; 48:7; Hs 10:5–6

3 "Listen to me, house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been sustained from the womb,

carried along since birth.

4 I will be the same until your old age,  * 46:4 Ps 71:18

and I will bear you up when you turn gray.

I have made you, and I will carry you;

I will bear and rescue you.

5 "To whom will you compare me or make me equal?

Who will you measure me with,

so that we should be like each other?  * 46:5 Is 40:18,25

6 Those who pour out their bags of gold

and weigh out silver on scales —

they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.

Then they kneel and bow down to it.  * 46:6 Is 40:19; 41:7; 44:12–17; Jr 10:4

7 They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;  * 46:7 Is 45:20; 46:1; Jr 10:5

they set it in its place, and there it stands;

it does not budge from its place.  * 46:7 Is 40:20; 41:7

They cry out to it but it doesn’t answer;

it saves no one from his trouble.

8 "Remember this and be brave;  * 46:8 Hb obscure

take it to heart, you transgressors!

9 Remember what happened long ago,  * 46:9 Dt 32:7; Is 42:9; 65:17

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and no one is like me.

10 I declare the end from the beginning,

and from long ago what is not yet done,

saying: my plan will take place,

and I will do all my will.  * 46:10 Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Is 5:19; 14:24; 25:1; 40:8; Ac 5:39

11 I call a bird of prey  * 46:11 = Cyrus from the east,  * 46:11 Is 44:28–45:1

a man for my purpose from a far country.

Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.  * 46:11 Nm 23:19; Is 14:24; 37:26

I have planned it; I will also do it.

12 Listen to me, you hardhearted,

far removed from justice:

13 I am bringing my justice near;  * 46:13 Is 51:5; 61:11; Rm 3:21

it is not far away,

and my salvation will not delay.

I will put salvation in Zion,

my splendor in Israel.