1 Bel bows down.

Nebo stoops.

Their idols are carried by animals,

and on the livestock.

The things that you carried around are heavy loads,

a burden for the weary.

2 They stoop and they bow down together.

They could not deliver the burden,

but they have gone into captivity.

3 "Listen to me, house of Jacob,

and all the remnant of the house of Israel,

that have been carried from their birth,

that have been carried from the womb.

4 Even to old age I am he,

and even to gray hairs I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear.

Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.

5 "To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal,

and compare me, as if we were the same?

6 Some pour out gold from the bag,

and weigh silver in the balance.

They hire a goldsmith,

and he makes it a god.

They fall down—

yes, they worship.

7 They bear it on their shoulder.

They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there.

It cannot move from its place.

Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer.

It cannot save him out of his trouble.

8 "Remember this, and show yourselves men.

Bring it to mind again, 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 I declare the end from the beginning,

and from ancient times things that are not yet done.

I say: My counsel will stand,

and I will do all that I please.

11 I call a ravenous bird from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

Yes, I have spoken.

I will also bring it to pass.

I have planned.

I will also do it.

12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,

who are far from righteousness!

13 I bring my righteousness near.

It is not far off,

and my salvation will not wait.

I will grant salvation to Zion,

my glory to Israel.

1 Bel bowed down; Nebo is fallen; their images were placed [upon] animals and upon beasts [of burden] that will carry you, laden with yourselves, burden of weariness.

2 They stoop, they are fallen together; they could not escape from the burden, and their soul had to go into captivity.

3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

4 And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he, and [even] to grey hairs I will carry [you]; I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will deliver [you].

5 To whom will ye liken me and make [me] equal and compare me that we may be alike?

6 They lavish gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the balance [and] hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; they fall down and worship.

7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him and set him in his place. There he is; he does not move from his place; they cry unto him, and neither does he answer, nor save from the tribulation.

8 Remember this, and be ashamed, bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old, for I [am] God, and [there is] no one else; [I am] God, and [there is] no one 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 ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country; I have spoken [it]; I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it]; I will also do it.

12 Hearken unto me, ye hard of heart, that [are] far from righteousness;

13 I cause my righteousness to come near; it shall not go away; and my salvation shall not be stayed: and I will place salvation in Zion; and my glory in Israel.: