Carried In His Strong Arms

1 ^(A)Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over; their images are consigned to the beasts and the cattle. The things that you carry are burdensome, a load for the weary beast.

2 They stooped over, they have bowed down together; they could not rescue the burden, but have themselves ^(B)gone into captivity.

3 "^(C)Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all ^(D)the remnant of the house of Israel, you who have been ^(E)borne by Me from birth and have been carried from the womb; 4 even to your old age ^(F)I will be the same, and even to your ^(G)graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.

5 "^(H)To whom would you liken Me and make Me equal and compare Me, that we would be alike?

6 "Those who ^(I)lavish gold from the purse and weigh silver on the scale hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; they ^(J)bow down, indeed they worship it.

7 "They ^(K)lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place and it stands there ^(L)it does not move from its place though one may cry to it, it ^(M)cannot answer; it ^(N)cannot deliver him from his distress.

8 "^(O)Remember this, and be assured; ^(P)recall it to mind, you ^(Q)transgressors.

9 "Remember the ^(R)former things long past, for I am God, and there is ^(S)no other; I am God, and there is ^(T)no one like Me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, '^(U)My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; 11 calling a ^(V)bird of prey from the ^(W)east, the man of My purpose from a far country truly I have ^(X)spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.