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.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
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:
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.
5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
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.
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.
8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
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,
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:
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.
12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:

1Bel boweth downe, Nebo stoupeth, their idoles were vpon the beasts, and vpon the cattell: your carriages were heauie loaden, they are a burden to the wearie beast.

2They stoupe, they bow downe together, they could not deliuer the burden, but themselues are gone into captiuitie.

3 Hearken vnto me, O house of Iacob, and al the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me, from the belly, which are caried from the wombe.

4And euen to your old age I am he, and euen to hoare haires will I cary you: I haue made, and I will beare, euen I wil cary and wil deliuer you.

5 To whom wil ye liken me, and make me equall, and compare me, that we may be like?

6They lauish gold out of the bagge, and weigh siluer in the balance, and hire a goldsmith, and hee maketh it a god: they fall downe, yea they worship.

7They beare him vpon the shoulder, they cary him and set him in his place, and hee standeth; from his place shall he not remooue: yea one shall cry vnto him, yet can he not answere, nor saue him out of his trouble.

8Remember this, and shew your selues men: bring it againe to minde, O ye transgressours.

9Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is none else, I am God, and there is none like me,

10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsell shall stand, and I wil doe all my pleasure:

11Calling a rauenous bird from the East, the man that executeth my counsell from a farre countrey; yea I haue spoken it, I will also bring it to passe, I haue purposed it, I will also doe it.

12 Hearken vnto me, ye stout hearted, that are farre from righteousnesse.

13I bring neere my righteousnesse: it shall not bee farre off, and my saluation shall not tarie; and I wil place saluation in Zion for Israel my glorie.

I == Jer 10:5

II == Jer 48:7

IV == Ps 48:14

VI == Isa 40:19 ; 41:6 44:12 , 19 ; Jer 10:3

VII == Ias 45:20 ; Jer 10:5

VIII == Isa 44:19 ; 47:7

IX == Deut 32:7 ; Isa 45:5 , 21

X == Ps 33:11

XI == Num 23:19

XII == Ps 76:5 ; Rom 10:3

XIII == Isa 51:5 ; 62:11 ; Hab 2:3 ; Rom 1:17 ; 3:21

1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are upon beasts and cattle; They must be borne up on shoulders, carried as burdens by the weary.

2 They stoop and bow down together; unable to save those who bear them, they too go into captivity.

3 Hear me, O house of Jacob, all who remain of the house of Israel, My burden since your birth, whom I have carried from your infancy.

4 Even to your old age I am the same, even when your hair is gray I will bear you; It is I who have done this, I who will continue, and I who will carry you to safety.

5 Whom would you compare me with, as an equal, or match me against, as though we were alike?

6 There are those who pour out gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scales; Then they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god before which they fall down in worship.

7 They lift it to their shoulders to carry; when they set it in place again, it stays, and does not move from the spot. Although they cry out to it, it cannot answer; it delivers no one from distress.

8 Remember this and be firm, bear it well in mind, you rebels; remember the former things, those long ago:

9 I am God, there is no other; I am God, there is none like me.

10 At the beginning I foretell the outcome; in advance, things not yet done. I say that my plan shall stand, I accomplish my every purpose.

11 I call from the east a bird of prey, from a distant land, one to carry out my plan. Yes, I have spoken, I will accomplish it; I have planned it, and I will do it.

12 Listen to me, you fainthearted, you who seem far from the victory of justice:

13 I am bringing on my justice, it is not far off, my salvation shall not tarry; I will put salvation within Zion, and give to Israel my glory.

v 1,2. God is so superior to idols. Bel was another name for Marduk, Jer. 50:2, god of the sun, and Nebo his son was god of learning, writing and astronomy in Babylon. They were heavy, carried on New Years day, instead of relieving burden.

v 3,4. Israel should listen because God has cared for them from conception to death and will continue to watch over them.

v 5-7 Idols which have to be carried cannot be compared to the true God.

v 8-13. The Babylonians should know God is the only God, and will bring Cyrus from the east to perform His will. Cyrus would overrun Babylon and deliver Israel.