1 B owed down hath Bel, stooping is Nebo, Their idols have been for the beast and for cattle, Your burdens are loaded, a burden to the weary.

Bel 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.

2 T hey have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And themselves into captivity have gone.

stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save, but are themselves going into captivity.

3 H earken unto Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of Israel, Who are borne from the belly, Who are carried from the womb,

Listen 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:

4 E ven to old age I He, and to grey hairs I carry, I made, and I bear, yea, I carry and deliver.

Even 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.

5 T o whom do ye liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?

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

6 - - They are pouring out gold from a bag, And silver on the beam they weigh, They hire a refiner, and he maketh it a god, They fall down, yea, they bow themselves.

They 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!

7 T hey lift him up on the shoulder, They carry him, and cause him to rest in his place, And he standeth, from his place he moveth not, Yea, one crieth unto him, and he answereth not, From his adversity he saveth him not.

They 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.

8 R emember this, and shew yourselves men, Turn back, O transgressors, to the heart.

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

9 R emember former things of old, For I Mighty, and there is none else, 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 none like Me,

10 D eclaring from the beginning the latter end, And from of old that which hath not been done, Saying, `My counsel doth stand, And all My delight I do.'

Declaring 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,

11 C alling from the east a ravenous bird, From a far land the man of My counsel, Yea, I have spoken, yea, I bring it in, I have formed, yea, I do it.

Calling 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.

12 H earken unto Me, ye mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.

Listen 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).

13 I have brought near My righteousness, It is not far off, And My salvation -- it doth not tarry, And I have given in Zion salvation, To Israel My glory!

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.