Babylon’s Idols

1Bel bows down, Nebo is stooping low;

their idols are on the beasts and on the cattle,

these carried by you⁺ were heavy laden

a burden to the weary.

2They stoop low, they bend down together;

they could not deliver the burden,

and their souls have gone into captivity.

3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,

and all the remnant of the house of Israel,

those having been upheld from birth,

having been carried from the womb:

4Even to your old age, I am He;

and until gray hair, I will will bear you up;

I have done it—and I will lift,

and I will bear and will deliver you.

5To whom will you⁺ liken Me and make Me equal

and compare Me, that we should be alike?

6Those lavishing gold from the bag

and weighing silver on the scales,

they hire a goldsmith, that he might make it a god.

They bow low, even bow down;

7they bear it on a shoulder,

they carry it

and set it in its place, and it stands—

from its place it will not move;

though one may cry out to it, and it will not answer;

from his distress it will not save him.

8Remember this and be men;

take it back, O transgressors, to heart!

9Remember the former things of old:

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and none is like Me—

10declaring from the beginning the end,

and from of old that which has not been done,

saying, ‘My counsel will stand,

and I will do all My delight;’

11the One calling from the east a bird of prey,

the man of My counsel from a country far away—

indeed, I have spoken it

and so I will bring it to pass;

I have fashioned it,

I will also do it.

12Listen to Me, O obstinate of heart,

far from righteousness!

13I have brought near My righteousness;

it is not far off; and My salvation—it will not be delayed;

and I have given to Zion salvation,

to Israel My splendor.