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.