1 B el bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are on the beasts and on the cattle. These things that you carry about are loaded as burdens on the weary beasts.

¶ Bel bowed down; Nebo is fallen; their images were placed upon animals and upon beasts of burden that will carry you, laden with yourselves, burden of weariness.

2 s toop, they bow down together; they cannot save, but are themselves going into captivity.

They stoop, they are fallen together; they could not escape from the burden, and their soul had to go into captivity.

3 L isten to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, you who have been borne by Me from your birth, carried from the womb:

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 E ven to your old age I am He, and even to hair white with age will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry and will save you.

And even to your old age I am he, and even to grey hairs I will carry you; I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will deliver you.

5 T o whom will you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we may be alike?

¶ To whom will ye liken me and make me equal and compare me that we may be alike?

6 T hey lavish gold out of the cup or bag, weigh out silver on the scales, and hire a goldsmith, and he fashions it into a god; they fall down, yes, they worship it!

They lavish gold out of the bag and weigh silver in the balance and hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; they fall down and worship.

7 T hey bear it upon their shoulders; they carry it and set it down in its place, and there it stands. It cannot move from its place. Even if one cries to it for help, yet cannot answer or save him out of his distress.

They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him and set him in his place. There he is; he does not move from his place; they cry unto him, and neither does he answer, nor save from the tribulation.

8 r emember this, be ashamed and own yourselves guilty; bring it again to mind and lay it to heart, O you rebels!

Remember this, and be ashamed, bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 r emember the former things, of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me,

Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like me,

10 D eclaring the end and the result 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 and purpose,

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 C alling a ravenous bird from the east—the man who executes My counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed it, and I will do it.

Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executes my counsel from a far country; I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it; I will also do it.

12 L isten to Me, you stiff-hearted and you who have lost heart, you who are far from righteousness (from uprightness and right standing with God, and from His righteous deliverance).

Hearken unto me, ye hard of heart, that are far from righteousness;

13 I bring near My righteousness, it will not be far off; and My salvation shall not tarry. And I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory.

I cause my righteousness to come near; it shall not go away; and my salvation shall not be stayed: and I will place salvation in Zion; and my glory in Israel.