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.

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.