³ “Listen^[g] to me, house of Jacob,
    and all you remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been upheld from before your birth,
    and who have been carried from the womb.
⁴ Even^[h] until your^[i] old age, I am the one,
    and I’ll carry you even until your gray hairs come.^[j]
It is I who have created,^[k] and I who will carry,
    and it is I who will bear and save.

⁵ “To whom will you compare me,
    count me equal,^[l] or liken me,
        so that I^[m] may be compared?
⁶ Those who pour out gold in^[n] a purse,
    weigh silver in a balance,
hire a goldsmith in order to make^[o] a god,
    and then^[p] they bow down and even worship it.
⁷ And^[q] they lift it on their shoulders, carry it,
    set it up in its place, and there it stands.
        It cannot move^[r] from that spot.
One may even call to^[s] it, but it cannot answer
    nor save him from his distress.

⁸ “Remember this, and stand firm;
    take it again to heart, you rebels.
⁹ Remember the former things from long ago,
    Because I am God, and there is no one else;
        I am God, and there is none like me.
¹⁰ I declare from the beginning things to follow,^[t]
    and from ancient times things that have not yet been done;
saying, ‘My purpose will stand,
    and he^[u] will accomplish everything that I please.’
¹¹ I am calling a bird of prey from the east,
    and from a far country a man with his^[v] purpose.
Indeed, I’ve spoken;
    I will certainly make it happen;
I’ve planned it;^[w]
    and I will certainly carry it out.

¹² “Listen to me, you hard-hearted,
    you who are far removed from righteousness:
¹³ My righteousness is brought near^[x] and^[y] it’s not far off,
    and my salvation won’t delay.
I’ll^[z] grant salvation in Zion,
    and^[aa] to Israel, my glory.”