[1] Bel and Nebo, will bow down before me. ˻Those false gods are only statues.˼ Men put those statues on the backs of animals—those statues are only heavy burdens that must be carried. The false gods do nothing but make people tired.
[2] Those false gods will all bow down—they will all fall. Those false gods can’t escape—they will all be carried away like prisoners.
[3] “Family of Jacob, listen to me! All you people from Israel that are still alive, listen! I have been carrying you. I have carried you since the time you were in your mother’s body.
[4] I carried you when you were born, and I will carry you when you become old. Your hair will become gray, and I will still carry you, because I made you. I will continue to carry you and I will save you.
[5] “Can you compare me to anyone? No! No person is equal to me. You can’t understand everything about me. There is nothing like me.
[6] Some people are rich with gold and silver. Gold falls from their purses, and they weigh their silver on scales. Those people pay an artist to make a false god from wood. Then those people bow down and worship that false god.
[7] Those people put their false god on their shoulders and carry it. That false god is useless—people have to carry it! People set the statue on the ground; and that false god can’t move. That false god never walks away from its place. People can yell at it, but it will not answer. That false god is only a statue—it can’t save people from their troubles.
[8] “You people have sinned. You should think about these things again. Remember these things and be strong.
[9] Remember the things that happened long ago. Remember that I am God. There is no other God. Those false gods are not like me.
[10] “In the beginning, I told you about the things that will happen in the end. A long time ago, I told you things that had not yet happened. When I plan something—that thing happens. I do the things I want to do.
[11] And I am calling a man from the east. That man will be like an eagle. He will come from a faraway country, and he will do the things I decide to do. I am telling you that I will do this, and I will do it. I made him, and I will bring him!
[12] “Some of you think that you have great power—but you don’t do good things. Listen to me!
[13] I will do good things! Soon, I will save ˻my people˼. I will bring salvation to Zion and to my wonderful Israel.”