Self-interpreting Bible

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Isaiah 46

1The idols of Babylon could not save themselves from captivity. 3God saveth his people to the end. 5Idols are not to be compared with God, who declareth beforehand the purposes which he executeth. 12His salvation is near at hand.


1 BEL aboweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your *carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but 1themselves are gone into captivity.

  • 1: Heb. their soul.

3 ¶bHearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and call the remnant of the house of Israel, which are dborne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

4 And eeven to your old age I am he; and even to *hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

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

6 gThey lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they hfall down, yea, they worship.

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

8 kRemember this, and lshew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 mRemember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; nI am God, and there is none like me,

10 oDeclaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, pMy counsel shall stand, and I will do qall my pleasure:

11 rCalling a 2ravenous bird from the east, 3the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, sI have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

12 ¶Hearken unto me, ye tstouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

13 uI bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place vsalvation in Zion for Israel wmy glory.