There Is No One like God
1 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. c
Idols depicting them are consigned to beasts and cattle.
The images you carry are loaded,
as a burden for the weary animal.
2 The gods cower; they crouch together;
they are not able to rescue the burden,
but they themselves go into captivity. d
3 “Listen to me, house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.
4 I will be the same until your old age, e
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and rescue you.
5 “Who will you compare me or make me equal to?
Who will you measure me with,
so that we should be like each other? f
6 Those who pour out their bags of gold
and weigh out silver on scales—
they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.
Then they kneel and bow down to it. g
7 They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along; h
they set it in its place, and there it stands;
it does not budge from its place. i
They cry out to it but it doesn’t answer;
it saves no one from his trouble.
8 “Remember this and be brave; Q
take it to heart, you transgressors!
9 Remember what happened long ago, j
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like me.
10 I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: my plan will take place,
and I will do all my will. k
11 I call a bird of prey R from the east, l
a man for my purpose from a far country.
Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. m
I have planned it; I will also do it.
12 Listen to me, you hardhearted,
far removed from justice:
13 I am bringing my justice near; n
it is not far away,
and my salvation will not delay.
I will put salvation in Zion,
my splendor in Israel.