the First Week of Advent
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Legacy Standard Bible
Isaiah 46
Babylon's Idols and the True God
1 (C1)Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;
Their images are on the beasts and the cattle.
The things (F1)that you carry are burdensome,
A load for the weary beast.
2 They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the load,
But (F1)have themselves (C1)gone into captivity.
3 "(C1)Hear Me, O house of Jacob,
And all (C2)the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been (C3)burdening Me from (F1)birth
And have been carried from the womb;
4 Even to your old age (F1)(C1)I will be the same,
And even to your (F2)(C2)graying years I will bear you!
I have (F3)done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you, and I will rescue you.
5 "(C1)To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we would be alike?
6 "Those who (C1)lavish gold from the purse
And weigh silver on the scale,
They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They (C2)fall down, indeed they worship it.
7 "They (C1)carry it upon the shoulder and bear it;
They set it in its place, and it stands there.
(C2)It does not move from its place.
Though one may cry to it, it (C3)cannot answer;
It (C4)cannot save him from his distress.
8 "(C1)Remember this, and be (F1)assured;
(C2)Cause it to return to your heart, you (C3)transgressors.
9 "Remember the (C1)former things long past,
For I am God, and there is (C2)no other;
I am God, and there is (C3)no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, '(C1)My counsel will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure',
11 Calling a (C1)bird of prey from the (C2)east,
The man of (F1)My counsel from a far country.
Truly I have (C3)spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have formed it, surely I will do it.
12 "(C1)Hear Me, you (C2)stubborn of heart,
Who are (C3)far from righteousness.
13 "I (C1)bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant (C2)salvation in Zion,
And My (C3)glory for Israel.