1  ^pBel bows down; Nebo stoops;

their idols are on beasts and livestock;

these things you ^qcarry are borne

as burdens on weary beasts.

2  They stoop; they bow down together;

they cannot save the burden,

but themselves go into captivity.

3  “Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all the ^rremnant of the house of Israel,

who have been ^sborne by me ^tfrom before your birth,

carried from the womb;

4  ^ueven to your old age ^vI am he,

and to gray hairs I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear;

I will carry and will save.

5  ^w“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

and compare me, that we may be alike?

6  Those who lavish gold from the purse,

and weigh out silver in the scales,

hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;

then they fall down and worship!

7  They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,

they set it in its place, and it stands there;

it ^xcannot move from its place.

If one ^ycries to it, it does not answer

or save him from his trouble.

8  ^z“Remember this and stand firm,

recall it to mind, 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  ^adeclaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, ^b‘My counsel shall stand,

and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

11  calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have purposed, and I will do it.

12  “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,

you who are far from righteousness:

13  ^cI bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,

and my salvation ^dwill not delay;

I will put salvation in Zion,

for Israel my glory.”