the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
English Standard Version
Isaiah 46
The Idols of Babylon and the One True God
1 (a)Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
as burdens on weary beasts.
2 They stoop; they bow down together;
they cannot save the burden,
but (b)themselves go into captivity.
3 "Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
(c)who have been borne by me from before your birth,
carried from the womb;
4 (d)even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
5 (e)"To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 (f)Those who lavish gold from the purse,
and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
(g)then they fall down and worship!
7 (h)They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
they set it in its place, and it stands there;
(i)it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
or save him from his trouble.
8 "Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, (j)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 (k)declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, (l)‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,'
11 (m)calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
(n)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 (o)I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
and my salvation will not delay;
(p)I will put salvation in Zion,
for Israel my glory."
English Standard Version
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.