¶ Bel¹ boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden² to the weary beast.

They stoop, they bow down together; they could³ not deliver the burden, but⁴ themselves are⁵ gone into captivity.

Hearken⁶ unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant⁷ of the house of Israel, which are borne⁸ by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

And even to your⁹ old age I am he; and even to hoar¹⁰ hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

¶¹¹To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

They lavish¹² gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall¹³ down, yea, they worship.

They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him,¹⁴ and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry¹⁵ unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

Remember¹⁶ this, and shew yourselves men: bring¹⁷ it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Remember the former¹⁸ things of old: for I am God¹⁹, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like²⁰ me,

¶ Declaring the end²¹ from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel²² shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Calling²³ a ravenous bird²⁴ from the east, the man²⁵ that executeth my counsel²⁶ from a far country: yea, I have spoken²⁷ it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Hearken²⁸ unto me, ye stouthearted²⁹, that³⁰ are far from righteousness:

I bring³¹ near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry³²: and I will place salvation³³ in Zion for Israel³⁴ my glory.