1 Bel has stooped; Nebo has bowed down. Their idols are placed on animals and livestock. These burdens you carry are heavy, a load for the weary.

Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

2 They collapse and bow down together; they cannot rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity.

They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

3 Listen to Me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, you who have been carried by Me from the womb, lifted up from birth.

Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

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

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

5 To whom will you compare Me or make Me equal? Who will you liken Me to, that we may be alike?

To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

6 They pour out gold from their purses and weigh silver on a scale. They hire a craftsman to make it into a god, and they bow down and even worship it.

They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

7 They lift it on their shoulders and carry it; they set it in its place, and there it stays. It does not move from its spot. If someone cries to it, it cannot answer or save them from their troubles.

They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

8 Remember this and show yourselves to be men; take it to heart, you transgressors.

Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is no one like Me.

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will accomplish all that I desire.'

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

11 I call a bird of prey from the east, a man to fulfill My purpose from a distant land. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will make it happen.

Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

12 Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness.

Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

13 I bring My righteousness near; it is not far off, and My salvation will not delay. I will grant salvation to Zion and My glory to Israel.

I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.