“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(A)
Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(B) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.(C)
They lift it to their shoulders and carry(D) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(E)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(F)
    it cannot save(G) them from their troubles.

“Remember(H) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.(I)
Remember the former things,(J) those of long ago;(K)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.(L)

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5-7 “So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable?
    Can you picture me without reducing me?
People with a lot of money
    hire craftsmen to make them gods.
The artisan delivers the god,
    and they kneel and worship it!
They carry it around in holy parades,
    then take it home and put it on a shelf.
And there it sits, day in and day out,
    a dependable god, always right where you put it.
Say anything you want to it, it never talks back.
    Of course, it never does anything either!

8-11 “Think about this. Wrap your minds around it.
    This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart.
Remember your history,
    your long and rich history.
I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have—
    incomparable, irreplaceable—
From the very beginning
    telling you what the ending will be,
All along letting you in
    on what is going to happen,
Assuring you, ‘I’m in this for the long haul,
    I’ll do exactly what I set out to do,’
Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east,
    from a far country the man I chose to help me.
I’ve said it, and I’ll most certainly do it.
    I’ve planned it, so it’s as good as done.

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