Isaiah 46

1 Bel [the Babylonian lord] crouches; Nebo [a Babylonian deity] cowers [stoops, bows down]. Their idols [idolatrous images, false gods] weigh down beasts [large quadruped mammals, livestock] and cattle [domesticated animals]. The images you carry [your burdens, heavy loads] are burdensome [a weight], a load [a burden, a heavy weight] to the weary [faint, exhausted] animal [a living creature, a beast]. word study 2 The gods [idols, false deities] cower [stoop, bow down]; they crouch [bend low, hunch over] together [in unity, as one], unable [lacking power, powerless] to relieve [deliver, rescue] the burden [message, prophecy]; but they themselves [their own souls, beings] go [walk, are led] into captivity [exile, bondage]. word study 3 “Listen to Me [Hearken unto, give ear to], O house [family, dwelling place] of Jacob [Israel, the father of the faithful], all [every, the entire] the remnant [what is left, surviving ones] of the house [family, nation] of Israel, who have been sustained [borne, carried, supported] from the womb [belly, birthplace], carried along [lifted, borne] since birth [from the beginning, earliest days]. word study 4 Even to your old age [advanced years, elderly stage], I will be the same [unchanging, eternal], and I will bear [support, carry] you up when you turn gray [become hoary, aged]. I have made [created, formed] you, and I will carry [sustain, uphold] you; I will sustain [nourish, preserve] you and deliver [rescue, save] you. word study 5 To whom [what being, which one] will you liken Me [compare, make equal] or count Me equal [make Me similar, consider Me alike]? To whom [which one, what person] will you compare Me [make Me like, consider Me equal], that we should be alike [be similar, be equal, have the same nature]? word study 6 They pour out [lavish, shake out] their bags [purses] of gold [a valuable metal] and weigh out [measure carefully] silver [money, wealth] on scales [a balance]; they hire [employ, pay] a goldsmith [a skilled craftsman] to fashion [make, create] it into a god [an idol, a false deity], so they can bow down [prostrate themselves, worship] and worship [pay homage, reverence]. word study 7 They lift [bear upon the shoulder, carry] it to their shoulder [upper end of the arm, where garments hang] and carry [bear, transport] it along; they set [place, establish] it in its place [fixed location, position], and there it stands [remains, abides], not budging [removing, departing] from that spot [location, position]. They cry out [call, shout] to it, but it does not answer [respond, reply]; it saves [rescues, delivers] no one from his troubles [adversity, distress]. word study 8 Remember [to recall, bring to mind] this and be brave [show yourselves men, act with courage]; take it to heart [to your inner being, with your feelings and will], you transgressors [rebels, those who break away from authority, sinners]! word study 9 Remember [think about, recall to mind] what happened [the former things of old] long ago, for I [the speaker, the self-existent One] am God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], and there is no other [none else, nothing comparable]; I am God, and there is none like Me [no one similar, having My nature]. word study 10 I declare [make known, tell openly] the end [final outcome, last part] from the beginning [first, from ancient times], and ancient times [past events, things of old] from what is still to come [the future, things not yet done]. I say [speak, proclaim], ‘My purpose [counsel, plan] will stand [rise, be established], and all [everything, the whole] My good pleasure [delight, will] I will accomplish [do, bring to pass].’ word study 11 I summon [call out to, invite] a bird of prey [ravenous bird, swift and powerful eagle] from the east [direction of sunrise], a man [individual, male person] for My purpose [counsel, plan] from a far-off land [distant country, remote region]. Truly [indeed, certainly] I have spoken [communicated, promised], and truly [indeed, certainly] I will bring it to pass [fulfill, accomplish]. I have planned [formed, purposed] it, and I will surely [definitely, without fail] do it [accomplish, bring to pass]. word study 12 Listen [hearken, give ear] to Me, you stubborn [stout-hearted, mighty] people, far [distant] removed from righteousness [justice, virtue, morality]: word study 13 I am bringing My righteousness [moral integrity, justice] near; it is not [by no means] far away, and My salvation [deliverance, rescue] will not be delayed [put off, hindered]. I will grant salvation [liberation, victory] to Zion [the city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem] and adorn Israel [the chosen people, God’s heritage] with My splendor [beauty, glory]. word study