Isaiah 45:18-46:13

Contemporary English Version

Everyone Is Invited

¹⁸The Lord alone is God!
He created the heavens
    and made a world
where people can live,
instead of creating
    an empty desert.
The Lord alone is God;
    there are no others.
¹⁹The Lord did not speak
    in a dark secret place
or command Jacob's descendants
    to search for him in vain.

The Lord speaks the truth,
    and this is what he says
²⁰to every survivor
    from every nation:
“Gather around me!
Learn how senseless it is
    to worship wooden idols
    or pray to helpless gods.

²¹“Why don't you get together
    and meet me in court?
Didn't I tell you long ago
    what would happen?
I am the only God!
    There are no others.
I bring about justice,
    and have the power to save.

²²“I invite the whole world
    to turn to me and be saved.
I alone am God!
    No others are real.
²³^(A) I have made a solemn promise,
    one that won't be broken:
Everyone will bow down
    and worship me.
²⁴They will admit that I alone
    can bring about justice.
Everyone who is angry with me
will be terribly ashamed
    and will turn to me.
²⁵I, the Lord, will give
victory and great honor
    to the people of Israel.”

Babylonia's Gods Are Helpless

The Lord said:

46 The gods Bel and Nebo^[a]
    are down on their knees,
as wooden images of them
are carried away
    on weary animals.^[b]
²They are down on their knees
    to rescue the heavy load,
but the images are still taken
    to a foreign country.

³You survivors in Israel,
    listen to me, the Lord.
Since the day you were born,
    I have carried you along.
⁴I will still be the same
when you are old and gray,
    and I will take care of you.
I created you. I will carry you
    and always keep you safe.

⁵Can anyone compare with me?
    Is anyone my equal?
⁶Some people hire a goldsmith
    and give silver and gold
to be formed into an idol
    for them to worship.
⁷They carry the idol
    on their shoulders,
then put it on a stand,
    but it cannot move.

They call out to the idol
    when they are in trouble,
but it doesn't answer,
    and it cannot help.
⁸Now keep this in mind,^[c]
you sinful people.
    And don't ever forget it.

The Lord Alone Is God

⁹I alone am God!
There are no other gods;
    no one is like me.
Think about what happened
    many years ago.
¹⁰From the very beginning,
I told what would happen
    long before it took place.

I kept my word ¹¹and brought
someone from a distant land
    to do what I wanted.
He attacked from the east,
    like a hawk swooping down.
Now I will keep my promise
    and do what I planned.

¹²You people are stubborn
and far from being safe,
    so listen to me.
¹³I will soon come to save you.
I am not far away
    and will waste no time;
I take pride in Israel
    and will save Jerusalem.

Footnotes

46.1 Bel and Nebo: Bel was another name for Marduk, the chief god of the Babylonians. Nebo was the son of Marduk and also an important god.
46.1 as … animals: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
46.8 Now … mind: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.