Isaiah 46
46
There Is No One Like God
1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.#Jr 50:2–4; 51:44
Idols depicting them are consigned to beasts and cattle.
The images you carry are loaded,
as a burden for the weary animal.
2The gods cower; they crouch together;
they are not able to rescue the burden,
but they themselves go into captivity.#Jdg 18:17–18,24; 2Sm 5:21; Jr 43:12–13; 48:7; Hs 10:5–6
3“Listen to me, house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.
4I will be the same until your old age,#Ps 71:18
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and rescue you.
5“To whom will you compare me or make me equal?
Who will you measure me with,
so that we should be like each other?#Is 40:18,25
6Those who pour out their bags of gold
and weigh out silver on scales —
they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.
Then they kneel and bow down to it.#Is 40:19; 41:7; 44:12–17; Jr 10:4
7They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;#Is 45:20; 46:1; Jr 10:5
they set it in its place, and there it stands;
it does not budge from its place.#Is 40:20; 41:7
They cry out to it but it doesn’t answer;
it saves no one from his trouble.
8“Remember this and be brave;#46:8 Hb obscure
take it to heart, you transgressors!
9Remember what happened long ago,#Dt 32:7; Is 42:9; 65:17
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like me.
10I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: my plan will take place,
and I will do all my will.#Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Is 5:19; 14:24; 25:1; 40:8; Ac 5:39
11I call a bird of prey#46:11 = Cyrus from the east,#Is 44:28–45:1
a man for my purpose from a far country.
Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.#Nm 23:19; Is 14:24; 37:26
I have planned it; I will also do it.
12Listen to me, you hardhearted,
far removed from justice:
13I am bringing my justice near;#Is 51:5; 61:11; Rm 3:21
it is not far away,
and my salvation will not delay.
I will put salvation in Zion,
my splendor in Israel.
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Isaiah 46: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Isaiah 46
46
Babylonia's Gods Are Helpless
The Lord said:
1The gods Bel and Nebo#46.1 Bel and Nebo: Bel was another name for Marduk, the chief god of the Babylonians. Nebo was the son of Marduk and also an important god.
are down on their knees,
as wooden images of them
are carried away
on weary animals.#46.1 as … animals: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2They are down on their knees
to rescue the heavy load,
but the images are still taken
to a foreign country.
3You survivors in Israel,
listen to me, the Lord.
Since the day you were born,
I have carried you along.
4I will still be the same
when you are old and gray,
and I will take care of you.
I created you. I will carry you
and always keep you safe.
5Can anyone compare with me?
Is anyone my equal?
6Some people hire a goldsmith
and give silver and gold
to be formed into an idol
for them to worship.
7They carry the idol
on their shoulders,
then put it on a stand,
but it cannot move.
They call out to the idol
when they are in trouble,
but it doesn't answer,
and it cannot help.
8Now keep this in mind,#46.8 Now … mind: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
you sinful people.
And don't ever forget it.
The Lord Alone Is God
9I alone am God!
There are no other gods;
no one is like me.
Think about what happened
many years ago.
10From the very beginning,
I told what would happen
long before it took place.
I kept my word 11and brought
someone from a distant land
to do what I wanted.
He attacked from the east,
like a hawk swooping down.
Now I will keep my promise
and do what I planned.
12You people are stubborn
and far from being safe,
so listen to me.
13I will soon come to save you.
I am not far away
and will waste no time;
I take pride in Israel
and will save Jerusalem.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.