Isaiah 46:1-7
Expanded Bible
False Gods Are Useless
46 Bel bows down and Nebo bends low [C important gods of Babylon].
Their ·idols [images] ·are carried by animals [L belong to beasts and cattle].
The statues are only heavy loads
carried by tired animals.
2 ·These gods will all ·bow [stoop and bow] down.
They cannot save themselves
but will all be carried away ·like prisoners [into captivity].
3 “·Family [L House] of Jacob, listen to me!
All ·you people from Israel who are still alive [the remnant of the house of Israel], listen!
I have carried you since you were born;
I have taken care of you from ·your birth [L the womb].
4 Even when you are old, I ·will be the same [L am he].
Even when your hair has turned gray, I will ·take care of [sustain; carry] you.
I made you and will carry you.
I will ·take care of [sustain; carry] and ·save [rescue] you.
5 “To whom can you compare me?
·No one [Who…?] is equal to me or ·like [comparable to] me.
6 Some people ·are rich with gold [L pour out gold from their bags]
and weigh their silver on the scales.
They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god.
Then they bow down and worship it.
7 They put it on their shoulders and carry it.
They set it in its place, and there it stands;
it cannot move from its place.
People may ·yell at [or cry out to] it, but it cannot answer.
It cannot save them from their troubles.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
