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¹ Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.^(a)
Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle.
The images you carry are loaded,
as a burden for the weary animal.
² The gods cower; they crouch together;
they are not able to rescue the burden,
but they themselves go into captivity.^(b)

³ "Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.
⁴ I will be the same until your old age,^(c)
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and save you.

⁵ "Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to?
Who will you measure Me with,
so that we should be like each other?^(d)
6 Those who pour out their bags of gold
and weigh out silver on scales—
they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.
Then they kneel and bow down to it.^(e)
7 They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;^(f)
they set it in its place, and there it stands;
it does not budge from its place.^(g)
They cry out to it but it doesn't answer;
it saves no one from his trouble.

⁸ "Remember this and be brave;^[a]
take it to heart, you transgressors!
⁹ Remember what happened long ago,^(h)
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like Me.
¹⁰ I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: My plan will take place,
and I will do all My will.^(i)
11 I call a bird of prey^[b] from the east,^(j)
a man for My purpose from a far country.
Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.^(k)
I have planned it; I will also do it.
¹² Listen to me, you hardhearted,
far removed from justice:
¹³ I am bringing My justice near;^(l)
it is not far away,
and My salvation will not delay.
I will put salvation in Zion,
My splendor in Israel.