46 Bel crouches down; Nebo cowers.
    Their idols sit on animals, on beasts.
The objects you once carried about
    are 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 Israel
    who 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 equal
    and compare me so that we are alike?
⁶ Those who pour out gold from a bag
    and weigh silver with a balance
    hire a metalworker; then he makes a god.
They bow down; they worship;
⁷     they carry the idol^[a] 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.

⁸ Remember this and take courage;
    take it to heart, you rebels.
⁹ Remember the prior things—from long ago;
    I am God, and there’s no other.
I am God! There’s none like me,
¹⁰     who tells the end at the beginning,
    from ancient times things not yet done,
    saying, “My plan will stand;
    all that I decide I will do,”
¹¹ I call a bird of prey from the east,
    a man from a distant land for my plan.
As surely as I have spoken, I’ll make it happen;
    I have planned, and yes, I’ll do it.
¹² Listen to me, you bullheaded people
    who are far from victory:
¹³ I’m bringing my victory near—it isn’t far,
    and my salvation—it won’t delay.
I will establish salvation in Zion
    and grant my splendor to Israel.