Difference between God and the false gods
1 ① Bel bows down, Nebo collapses, the carriages are weighed down with their idols. Their sacred ob jects have become a burden for the weary feasts.
2They cringe and crouch together, powerless to save those who carry them, as they themselves are taken captive.
3Hear me, O people of Jacob,
and all who remain of Israel,
whom I have cared for since you were conceived,
and carried since you were born.
4Even to your old age, I am he
and I will sustain you
even when your hair turns gray.
It is I who have done this,
and who bear the burdens,
I will sustain and save you.
5To whom will you compare me or consider me equal?
Against whom will you match me,
as though we were alike?
6Some pour out gold from their purses,
and with silver weighed on the scales
they hire a goldsmith to make an image
before which they bow and worship.
7They carry it upon their shoulders
and set it up in its place;
and there it stands, unmoving and silent.
They cry out to it, but it does not answer,
it delivers no one from distress and disaster.
8Bear it well in mind, you rebels,
9recall those things of long ago.
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10From the beginning I foretold the outcome,
from ancient times, what was yet to come.
I say, and my plan will be fulfilled;
and what I wish, I will accomplish.
11From the east I call forth a bird of prey,
from a distant land, a man to carry out my plan.
Yes, I have spoken, it will be done;
I have planned, it will be executed.
12Listen to me, you without hope,
you who are deprived of any right.
13I am bringing my justice, it is not far away;
my salvation will not delay.
I will make salvation appear in Zion,
upon Israel I will bestow my glory.
- Is 46,1 The prophet foresees the fall of Babylon. He imagines the Chaldeans carrying their idols in flight. Israel, on the other hand, does not have to carry its gods: Yahweh is the one who carries his people (46:1-7) and gives them life.
