Isaiah 46

The fall of Bel and Nebo

כָּרַע בֵּל קֹרֵס נְבוֹ הָיוּ עֲצַבֵּיהֶם לַחַיָּה וְלַבְּהֵמָה נְשֻׂאֹתֵיכֶם עֲמוּסוֹת מַשָּׂא לַעֲיֵפָֽה׃
1
Bel boweth 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.
קָרְסוּ כָֽרְעוּ יַחְדָּו לֹא יָכְלוּ מַלֵּט מַשָּׂא וְנַפְשָׁם בַּשְּׁבִי הָלָֽכָה׃
2
They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

The God who carries Israel, unlike idols

שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי בֵּית יַעֲקֹב וְכָל-שְׁאֵרִית בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל הַֽעֲמֻסִים מִנִּי-בֶטֶן הַנְּשֻׂאִים מִנִּי-רָֽחַם׃
3
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
וְעַד-זִקְנָה אֲנִי הוּא וְעַד-שֵיבָה אֲנִי אֶסְבֹּל אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי וַאֲנִי אֶשָּׂא וַאֲנִי אֶסְבֹּל וַאֲמַלֵּֽט׃
4
And even 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.
לְמִי תְדַמְיוּנִי וְתַשְׁווּ וְתַמְשִׁלוּנִי וְנִדְמֶֽה׃
5
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
הַזָּלִים זָהָב מִכִּיס וְכֶסֶף בַּקָּנֶה יִשְׁקֹלוּ יִשְׂכְּרוּ צוֹרֵף וְיַעֲשֵׂהוּ אֵל יִסְגְּדוּ אַף-יִֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ׃
6
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
יִשָּׂאֻהוּ עַל-כָּתֵף יִסְבְּלֻהוּ וְיַנִּיחֻהוּ תַחְתָּיו וְיַֽעֲמֹד מִמְּקוֹמוֹ לֹא יָמִישׁ אַף-יִצְעַק אֵלָיו וְלֹא יַעֲנֶה מִצָּרָתוֹ לֹא יוֹשִׁיעֶֽנּוּ׃
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, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

Declaring the end from the beginning

זִכְרוּ-זֹאת וְהִתְאֹשָׁשׁוּ הָשִׁיבוּ פוֹשְׁעִים עַל-לֵֽב׃
8
Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
זִכְרוּ רִאשֹׁנוֹת מֵעוֹלָם כִּי אָנֹכִי אֵל וְאֵין עוֹד אֱלֹהִים וְאֶפֶס כָּמֽוֹנִי׃
9
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
מַגִּיד מֵֽרֵאשִׁית אַחֲרִית וּמִקֶּדֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא-נַעֲשׂוּ אֹמֵר עֲצָתִי תָקוּם וְכָל-חֶפְצִי אֶעֱשֶֽׂה׃
10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
קֹרֵא מִמִּזְרָח עַיִט מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק אִישׁ ‫(עצתו)‬ עֲצָתִי אַף-דִּבַּרְתִּי אַף-אֲבִיאֶנָּה יָצַרְתִּי אַף-אֶעֱשֶֽׂנָּה׃
11
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
שִׁמְעוּ אֵלַי אַבִּירֵי לֵב הָרְחוֹקִים מִצְּדָקָֽה׃
12
Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
קֵרַבְתִּי צִדְקָתִי לֹא תִרְחָק וּתְשׁוּעָתִי לֹא תְאַחֵר וְנָתַתִּי בְצִיּוֹן תְּשׁוּעָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל תִּפְאַרְתִּֽי׃
13
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

Places in Isaiah 46

People, Places & Things in Isaiah 46