ISAIAH 46 [†]  o 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  p themselves go into captivity.

3[†] “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

 q who have been borne by me from before your birth,

carried from the womb;

4  r 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[†]  s “To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

and compare me, that we may be alike?

6[†]  t Those who lavish gold from the purse,

and weigh out silver in the scales,

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

 u then they fall down and worship!

7  v They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,

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

 w it 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,  x 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  y declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying,  z ‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11  a calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

 b I 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  c I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,

and my salvation will not delay;

 d I will put salvation in Zion,

for Israel my glory.”