1 Bel crouches down; Nebo cowers.Their idols sit on animals, on beasts.The objects you once carried aboutare now borne as burdens by the weary animals.
2 They crouch down and cower together.They aren’t able to rescue the burden,but they themselves go into captivity.
3 Listen to me, house of Jacob,all that remains from the house of Israelwho have been borne by me since pregnancy,whom I carried from the womb
4 until you grow old. I am the one,and until you turn gray I will support you.I have done it, and I will continue to bear it;I will support and I will rescue.
5 To whom will you liken me and count me equaland compare me so that we are alike?
6 Those who pour out gold from a bagand weigh silver with a balancehire a metalworker; then he makes a god.They bow down; they worship;
7 they carry the idol on their shoulders and support it;they set it down, and it stands still,unable to move from its place.If one cries out to it, it doesn’t answer.It can’t save people from their distress.