Isaiah (Douay: Isaias) 46

¹ Bel bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock. The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary.

² They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity.

³ “Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been carried from their birth, that have been carried from the womb.

⁴ Even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear. Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.

⁵ “To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?

⁶ Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down – yes, they worship.

⁷ They bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer. It cannot save him out of his trouble.

⁸ “Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors.

⁹ Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me.

¹⁰ I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.

¹¹ I call a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yes, I have spoken. I will also bring it to pass. I have planned. I will also do it.

¹² Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness!

¹³ I bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel.

¹ BBel is broken, Nebo is destroyed: their idols are put upon beasts and cattle, your burdens of heavy weight even unto weariness.

² They are consumed, and are broken together: they could not save him that carried them, and they themselves shall go into captivity.

³ Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel who are carried by my bowels, are borne up by my womb.

⁴ Even to your old age I am the same, and to your grey hairs I will carry you: I have made you, and I will bear: I will carry and will save.

⁵ To whom have you likened me, and made me equal, and compared me, and made me like?

⁶ You that contribute gold out of the bag, and weigh out silver in the scales: and hire a goldsmith to make a god: and they fall down and worship.

⁷ They bear him on their shoulders and carry him, and set him in his place, and he shall stand, and shall not stir out of his place. Yea, when they shall cry also unto him, he shall not hear: he shall not save them from tribulation.

⁸ Remember this, and be ashamed: return, ye transgressors, to the heart.

⁹ Remember the former age, for I am God, and there is no God beside, neither is there the like to me:

¹⁰ Who shew from the beginning the things that shall be at last, and from ancient times the things that as yet are not done, saying: My counsel shall stand, and all my will shall be done:

¹¹ Who call a bird from the east, and from a far country the man of my own will, and I have spoken, and will bring it to pass: I have created, and I will do it. Hear me, O ye hardhearted, who are far from justice.

¹² I have brought my justice near, it shall not be afar off: and my salvation shall not tarry. I will give salvation in Sion, and my glory in Israel.