Study Desk

^(a)Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over; Their images are consigned to the beasts and the cattle. The things ^[a]that you carry are burdensome, A load for the weary beast.

They stooped over, they have bowed down together; They could not rescue the burden, But ^[b]have themselves ^(b)gone into captivity.

"^(c)Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all ^(d)the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been ^(e)borne by Me from ^[c]birth And have been carried from the womb;

Even to your old age ^(f)I ^[d]will be the same, And even to your ^[e](g)graying years I will bear you! I have ^[f]done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.

"^(h)To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike?

"Those who ⁽ⁱ⁾lavish gold from the purse And weigh silver on the scale Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; They ^(j)bow down, indeed they worship it.

"They ^(k)lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; They set it in its place and it stands there. ^(l)It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it ^(m)cannot answer; It ⁽ⁿ⁾cannot deliver him from his distress.

"^(o)Remember this, and be ^[g]assured; ^(p)Recall it to ^[h]mind, you ^(q)transgressors.

"Remember the ^(r)former things long past, For I am God, and there is ^(s)no other; I am God, and there is ^(t)no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘^(u)My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

Calling a ^(v)bird of prey from the ^(w)east, The man of ^[i]My purpose from a far country. Truly I have ^(x)spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

"^(y)Listen to Me, you ^(z)stubborn-minded, Who are ^(aa)far from righteousness.

"I ^(ab)bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant ^(ac)salvation in Zion, And My ^(ad)glory for Israel.