Isaiah 46
46
1Bel bows down, Nebo bends low;#46:1. Bel and Nebo were Babylonian gods. The picture here is of the conqueror dragging away the idols of a defeated people. their idols are carried off on beasts of burden, a heavy weight for the tired animals. 2They bend low and bow down together—they can't help rescue their idols, and they themselves go off into captivity.
3Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all those who are left of the people of Israel. I have looked after you since you were born, carrying you from birth. 4Even when you're old, I will still be your God; even when your hair turns white, I will still support you. I made you, I will carry you, I will support you, and I will save you.
5Can you think of anyone is like me? Can you consider anyone to be my equal? Can you compare anyone with me, as if we were alike?
6There are those who extravagantly tip out gold from their bags, and weigh out silver on the scales, and hire a goldsmith to make them a god they can bow down to and worship. 7They lift the idol onto their shoulders, carry it along, and then put it in place. It stays there and doesn't move. Even when people cry out to it for help, it doesn't answer—it can't save them from their troubles.
8Remember this, and act like men! Think about it, you rebels! 9Remember what I've done for you since the beginning, for I am God, and there is no God apart from me. I am God, and there is none like me. 10I make known the end from the very beginning, declaring from ancient times what the future will bring. Whatever I plan will take place; I will accomplish everything I wish. 11I'm calling a bird of prey from the east, a man from a distant country who will carry out my plan.#46:11. Once again this is taken to refer to Cyrus. I have spoken, and I will make sure it happens. I have made my plan, and I will carry it out.
12Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are such a long way from doing what's right! 13Very shortly I am going to make things right—it won't be long. I will come with my salvation without delay—I will save Zion to demonstrate my glory to Israel.
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Isaiah 46: FBV
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
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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