1 Bel kneels down,Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts.Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.
2 Together they bend low and kneel down;they are unable to rescue the images;they themselves head off into captivity.
3 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob, all you who are left from the family of Israel,you who have been carried from birth,you who have been supported from the time you left the womb.
4 Even when you are old, I will take care of you,even when you have gray hair, I will carry you.I made you and I will support you;I will carry you and rescue you.
5 To whom can you compare and liken me?Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!
6 Those who empty out gold from a purseand weigh out silver on the scalehire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god.They then bow down and worship it.
7 They put it on their shoulder and carry it;they put it in its place and it just stands there;it does not move from its place.Even when someone cries out to it, it does not reply;it does not deliver him from his distress.
8 Remember this, so you can be brave!Think about it, you rebels!
9 Remember what I accomplished in antiquity!Truly I am God, I have no peer;I am God, and there is none like me,
10 who announces the end from the beginningand reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred,who says, ‘My plan will be realized,I will accomplish what I desire,’
11 who summons an eagle from the east,from a distant land, one who carries out my plan.Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass;I have formulated a plan,yes, I will carry it out.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn people,you who distance yourself from doing what is right.
13 I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away;I am bringing my salvation near, it does not wait.I will save Zion;I will adorn Israel with my splendor.”