Babylon’s Idols and the True God

1
Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;
Their images are {consigned} to the beasts and the cattle.
The things that you carry are burdensome,
A load for the weary {beast.} 2
They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the burden,
But have themselves gone into captivity.

 3
“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb; 4
Even to {your} old age I will be the same,
And even to {your} graying years I will bear {you!}
I have done {it,} and I will carry {you;}
And I will bear {you} and I will deliver {you.}

 5
“To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we would be alike? 6
“Those who lavish gold from the purse
And weigh silver on the scale
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it {into} a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it. 7
“They lift it upon the shoulder {and} carry it;
They set it in its place and it stands {there.}
It does not move from its place.
Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot deliver him from his distress.

 8
“Remember this, and be assured;
Recall it to mind, you transgressors. 9
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
{I am} God, and there is no one like Me, 10
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, `My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; 11
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned {it, surely} I will do it.

 12
“Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness. 13
“I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
{And} My glory for Israel.