Isaiah

The book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 46, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 46 New English Translation

The LORD Carries His People

   1 Bel kneels down, Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts. Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.
   2 Together they bend low and kneel down; they are unable to rescue the images; they themselves head off into captivity.
   3 "Listen to me, O family of Jacob, all you who are left from the family of Israel, you who have been carried from birth, you who have been supported from the time you left the womb.
   4 Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you.
   5 To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!
   6 Those who empty out gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scale hire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god. They then bow down and worship it.
   7 They put it on their shoulder and carry it; they put it in its place and it just stands there; it does not move from its place. Even when someone cries out to it, it does not reply; it does not deliver him from his distress.
   8 Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels!
   9 Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me,
   10 who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, 'My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire, '
   11 who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, one who carries out my plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out.
   12 Listen to me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right.
   13 I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing my salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with my splendor."

King James Version

   1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
   2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
   3 ¶ Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
   4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
   5 ¶ To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
   6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
   7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
   8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
   9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
   10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
   11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
   12 ¶ Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
   13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.