以賽亞書46:1-13

46:1 彼勒屈身，尼波彎腰；巴比倫的偶像馱在獸和牲畜上。他們所抬的如今成了重馱，使牲畜疲乏，
46:2 都一同彎腰屈身，不能保全重馱，自己倒被擄去。
46:3 雅各家，以色列家一切餘剩的要聽我言：你們自從生下，就蒙我保抱，自從出胎，便蒙我懷搋。
46:4 直到你們年老，我仍這樣；直到你們髮白，我仍懷搋。我已造作，也必保抱；我必懷抱，也必拯救。
46:5 你們將誰與我相比，與我同等，可以與我比較，使我們相同呢？
46:6 那從囊中抓金子，用天平平銀子的人，雇銀匠製造神像，他們又俯伏，又叩拜。
46:7 他們將神像抬起，扛在肩上，安置在定處，它就站立，不離本位；人呼求它，它不能答應，也不能救人脫離患難。
46:8 你們當想念這事，自己作大丈夫。悖逆的人哪，要心裡思想。
46:9 你們要追念上古的事。因為我是上帝，並無別神；我是上帝，再沒有能比我的。
46:10 我從起初指明末後的事，從古時言明未成的事，說：我的籌算必立定；凡我所喜悅的，我必成就。
46:11 我召鷙鳥從東方來，召那成就我籌算的人從遠方來。我已說出，也必成就；我已謀定，也必做成。
46:12 你們這些心中頑梗、遠離公義的，當聽我言。
46:13 我使我的公義臨近，必不遠離。我的救恩必不遲延；我要為以色列─我的榮耀，在錫安施行救恩。

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops,

their idols are on beasts and cattle;

these things you carry are loaded

as burdens on weary animals.

2

They stoop, they bow down together;

they cannot save the burden,

but themselves go into captivity.

3

Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been borne by me from your birth,

carried from the womb;

4

even to your old age I am he,

even when you turn gray I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear;

I will carry and will save.

5

To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

and compare me, as though we were alike?

6

Those who lavish gold from the purse,

and weigh out silver in the scales—

they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god;

then they fall down and worship!

7

They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,

they set it in its place, and it stands there;

it cannot move from its place.

If one cries out to it, it does not answer

or save anyone from trouble.

8

Remember this and consider,

recall it to mind, you transgressors,

9

remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like me,

10

declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, “My purpose shall stand,

and I will fulfill my intention,”

11

calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man for my purpose from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have planned, and I will do it.

12

Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,

you who are far from deliverance:

13

I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off,

and my salvation will not tarry;

I will put salvation in Zion,

for Israel my glory.

*************

    上帝透過先知再次宣告：「我使我的公義臨近，必不遠離。我的救恩必不遲延；我要為以色列─我的榮耀，在錫安施行救恩。」

    所以，救恩和公義是分不開的，而更進一步說上帝的審判更是拯救，因為上帝審判的工作不是懲罰我們，而是讓我們從短暫有罪的生命，轉化成為永恆和聖潔的永生！這個做為十分奇妙，也只有真神才有這樣的能力。一般的假神，當然不是神，只保守短暫的時節，並不是永恆。

    而上帝不僅保守我們一生，更是保守我們到永恆，因此先之宣告：「因為我是上帝，並無別神；我是上帝，再沒有能比我的。我從起初指明末後的事，從古時言明未成的事，說：我的籌算必立定；凡我所喜悅的，我必成就。」

    也因此，我們既然透過主耶穌成為上帝的兒女，我們就要在聖靈裡用聖經的話語來信靠上帝，尊上帝為大、為至高來讚美祂和敬拜祂，單單將榮耀歸給這位拯救我們得上帝！