Isaiah 46

New International Version

Gods of Babylon

46 Bel^(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols^(B) are borne by beasts of burden.^[a]
The images that are carried^(C) about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.
²They stoop and bow down together;
    unable to rescue the burden,
    they themselves go off into captivity.^(D)

³“Listen^(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant^(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,^(G)
    and have carried^(H) since you were born.^(I)
⁴Even to your old age and gray hairs^(J)
    I am he,^(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain^(L) you and I will rescue you.

⁵“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?^(M)
⁶Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith^(N) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.^(O)
⁷They lift it to their shoulders and carry^(P) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.^(Q)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;^(R)
    it cannot save^(S) them from their troubles.

⁸“Remember^(T) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.^(U)
⁹Remember the former things,^(V) those of long ago;^(W)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.^(X)
¹⁰I make known the end from the beginning,^(Y)
    from ancient times,^(Z) what is still to come.^(AA)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,^(AB)
    and I will do all that I please.’
¹¹From the east I summon^(AC) a bird of prey;^(AD)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,^(AE) that I will do.^(AF)
¹²Listen^(AG) to me, you stubborn-hearted,^(AH)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.^(AI)
¹³I am bringing my righteousness^(AJ) near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation^(AK) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,^(AL)
    my splendor^(AM) to Israel.

Footnotes

Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle

Isaiah 4

New International Version

4 ¹In that day^(A) seven women
    will take hold of one man^(B)
and say, “We will eat our own food^(C)
    and provide our own clothes;
only let us be called by your name.
    Take away our disgrace!”^(D)

The Branch of the Lord

²In that day^(E) the Branch of the Lord^(F) will be beautiful^(G) and glorious, and the fruit^(H) of the land will be the pride and glory^(I) of the survivors^(J) in Israel. ³Those who are left in Zion,^(K) who remain^(L) in Jerusalem, will be called holy,^(M) all who are recorded^(N) among the living in Jerusalem. ⁴The Lord will wash away the filth^(O) of the women of Zion;^(P) he will cleanse^(Q) the bloodstains^(R) from Jerusalem by a spirit^[a] of judgment^(S) and a spirit^[b] of fire.^(T) ⁵Then the Lord will create^(U) over all of Mount Zion^(V) and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night;^(W) over everything the glory^[c]^(X) will be a canopy.^(Y) ⁶It will be a shelter^(Z) and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge^(AA) and hiding place from the storm^(AB) and rain.