¹Bel bows down; Nebo is stooping. Their idols are ⌞on⌟ animals and ⌞on⌟ cattle; your ⌞cargo⌟ is carried as a burden ⌞on⌟ weary animals. ²They stoop; they bow down together. They are not able to save the burden, but ⌞they themselves go⌟ in captivity. ³“Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel who have been carried from the belly, who have been carried from the womb: ⁴Even to your old age I am he; even to your advanced age I myself will support you. I myself have made you, and I myself will carry you, and I myself will support you, and I will save you. ⁵To whom will you liken me, and count as equal, and compare with me, as though we were alike? ⁶Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh out silver in the balance scales; hire ⌞a goldsmith⌟ and he makes him a god; they bow down, indeed they bow in worship. ⁷They carry it on their shoulder; they support it and they set it in its place, and it stands in position. It cannot be removed from its place; even when he cries out to it, it does not answer. It does not save him from his trouble. ⁸Remember this and pluck up courage! Call to ⌞mind⌟, you transgressors! ⁹Remember the former things from ⌞a long time ago⌟, for I am God and there is none besides me, God and there is none like me, ¹⁰who from the beginning declares the end, and from before, things that have not been done, who says, ‘My plan shall stand,’ and, ‘I will accomplish all my wishes,’ ¹¹who calls a bird of prey from the east, the man of his plan from a country from afar. Indeed I have spoken; indeed I will bring it to being. I have formed it; indeed I will do it. ¹²Listen to me, strong of heart, far from righteousness! ¹³I bring my righteousness near; it is not far. And my salvation will not delay; and I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.”