46The god Bel falls down, god Nebo slumps. The no-god hunks of wood are loaded on mules And have to be hauled off, wearing out the poor mules—H1078H3766H5015H7164H6091H2416H929H5385H6006H4853H58892Dead weight, burdens who can't bear burdens, hauled off to captivity.H7164H3766H3162H3201H4422H4853H5315H1980H76283"Listen to me, family of Jacob, everyone that's left of the family of Israel. I've been carrying you on my back from the day you were born,H8085H1004H3290H7611H1004H3478H6006H990H5375H73564And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old. I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray. I've done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.H2209H7872H5445H6213H5375H5445H44225"So to whom will you compare me, the Incomparable? Can you picture me without reducing me?H1819H7737H4911H18196People with a lot of money hire craftsmen to make them gods. The artisan delivers the god, and they kneel and worship it!H2107H2091H3599H8254H3701H7070H7936H6884H6213H410H5456H78127They carry it around in holy parades, then take it home and put it on a shelf. And there it sits, day in and day out, a dependable god, always right where you put it. Say anything you want to it, it never talks back. Of course, it never does anything either!H5375H3802H5445H3240H5975H4725H4185H6817H6030H3467H68698"Think about this. Wrap your minds around it. This is serious business, rebels. Take it to heart.H2142H377H7725H3820H65869Remember your history, your long and rich history. I am GOD, the only God you've had or ever will have— incomparable, irreplaceable—H2142H7223H5769H410H430H657H364410From the very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on what is going to happen, Assuring you, 'I'm in this for the long haul, I'll do exactly what I set out to do,'H5046H319H7225H6924H6213H559H6098H6965H6213H265611Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I've said it, and I'll most certainly do it. I've planned it, so it's as good as done.H7121H5861H4217H376H6098H4801H776H1696H935H3335H621312"Now listen to me: You're a hardheaded bunch and hard to help.H8085H47H3820H7350H666613I'm ready to help you right now. Deliverance is not a long-range plan. Salvation isn't on hold. I'm putting salvation to work in Zion now, and glory in Israel.H7126H6666H7368H8668H309H5414H8668H6726H3478H8597