The Idols of Babylon and the One True God
aBel 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 athemselves go into captivity.
3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
awho have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
4 aeven 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 a“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 aThose who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
bthen they fall down and worship!
7 aThey lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
bit 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, ayou 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 adeclaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, b‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 acalling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
bI 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 aI bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
bI will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory.”