Isaiah 46

The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

1 *Jer. 50:2;51:44;[ch. 21:9]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 *[Jer. 48:7;Hos. 10:5,6]themselves go into captivity.

3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

*[Deut. 1:31;32:11]who have been borne by me from before your birth,

carried from the womb;

4 *[Ps. 71:18]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 *See ch. 40:18"To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

and compare me, that we may be alike?

6 *See ch. 44:10Those who lavish gold from the purse,

and weigh out silver in the scales,

hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;

*ch. 44:15then they fall down and worship!

7 *See ch. 45:20They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,

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

*Ps. 115:7it 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, *[ch. 43:25]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 *ch. 41:26declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, *ch. 44:26,28;Ps. 33:11;Prov. 19:21;[Heb. 6:17]‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11 *See ch. 41:2calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

*Num. 23:19I 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 *ch. 51:5;[ch. 56:1;Ps. 85:9] I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,

and my salvation will not delay;

*ch. 62:11;[Joel 2:32]I will put salvation in Zion,

for Israel my glory."