Babylon's Idols
1 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.
1 (A)Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;Their images are consigned to the beasts and the cattle.The things (a)that you carry are burdensome,A load for the weary beast.
1 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.(A)Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle.The images you carry are loaded,as a burden for the weary animal.
1 "Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low. Their idols are on beasts, on livestock. Your loads are more burdensome than their reports.
1 Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;Their idols are on the beasts [of burden] and on the cattle.Your burdens [of idols] are loaded [on them],Burdens on the weary animals.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
2 They stooped over, they have bowed down together;They could not rescue the burden,But (b)have themselves (B)gone into captivity.
2 The gods cower; they crouch together;they are not able to rescue the burden,but they themselves go into captivity.(B)
2 They stoop, they bow down together, and they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go off into captivity.
2 They stooped over, they have bowed down together;They could not rescue the burden [of their own idols],But have themselves 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:
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 (c)birthAnd have been carried from the womb;
3 “Listen to Me, house of Jacob,all the remnant of the house of Israel,who have been sustained from the womb,carried along since birth.
3 "Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all you remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld from before your birth, and who have been carried from the womb.
3 “Listen to Me,” [says the Lord], “O house of Jacob,And all the remnant of the house of Israel,You who have been carried by Me from your birthAnd have been carried [in My arms] 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.
4 Even to your old age (F)I (d)will be the same,And even to your (e)(G)graying years I will bear you!I have (f)done it, and I will carry you;And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
4 I will be the same until your old age,(C)and I will bear you up when you turn gray.I have made you, and I will carry you;I will bear and save you.
4 Even until your old age, I am the one, and I'll carry you even until your gray hairs come. It is I who have created, and I who will carry, and it is I who will bear and save.
4 Even to your old age I am He,And even to your advanced old age I will carry you!I have made you, and I will carry you;Be assured I will carry you and I will save you.
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.
6 “Those who (I)lavish gold from the purseAnd weigh silver on the scaleHire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;They (J)bow down, indeed they worship it.
6 Those who pour out their bags of goldand weigh out silver on scales—they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.Then they kneel and bow down to it.(E)
6 Those who pour out gold in a purse, weigh silver in a balance, hire a goldsmith in order to make a god, and then they bow down and even worship it.
6 “Those who lavish gold from the bagAnd weigh out silver on the scalesHire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;They bow down, indeed they worship it.
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.
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.
7 They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;(F)they set it in its place, and there it stands;it does not budge from its place.(G)They cry out to it but it doesn’t answer;it saves no one from his trouble.
7 And they lift it on their shoulders, carry it, set it up in its place, and there it stands. It cannot move from that spot. One may even call to it, but it cannot answer nor save him from his distress.
7 “They lift it on their shoulders [in religious processions or into battle] and carry it;They set it in its place and there it remains standing.It cannot move from its place.Even if one cries to it [for help], the idol cannot answer;It cannot save him from his distress.
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,
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,
9 Remember what happened long ago,(H)for I am God, and there is no other;I am God, and no one is like Me.
9 Remember the former things from long ago, Because I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like me.
9 “Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past;For I am God, and there is no one else;I am God, and there is no one 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:
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’;
10 I declare the end from the beginning,and from long ago what is not yet done,saying: My plan will take place,and I will do all My will.(I)
10 I declare from the beginning things to follow, and from ancient times things that have not yet been done; saying, "My purpose will stand, and he will accomplish everything that I please.'
10 Declaring the end and the result from the beginning,And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done,Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’
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.
11 Calling a (V)bird of prey from the (W)east,The man of (i)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.
11 I call a bird of prey(b) from the east,(J)a man for My purpose from a far country.Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.(K)I have planned it; I will also do it.
11 I am calling a bird of prey from the east, and from a far country a man with his purpose. Indeed, I've spoken; I will certainly make it happen; I've planned it; and I will certainly carry it out.
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,From a far country, the man (Cyrus) of My purpose.Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.I have planned it, be assured I will do it.
12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
12 Listen to me, you hardhearted,far removed from justice:
12 "Listen to me, you hard-hearted, you who are far removed from righteousness:
12 “Listen to Me, you stiff-necked people,You who are far from righteousness (right standing with God).
13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
13 “I (AB)bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;And My salvation will not delay.And I will grant (AC)salvation in Zion,And My (AD)glory for Israel.
13 I am bringing My justice near;(L)it is not far away,and My salvation will not delay.I will put salvation in Zion,My splendor in Israel.
13 My righteousness is brought near and it's not far off, and my salvation won't delay. I'll grant salvation in Zion, and to Israel, my glory."
13 “I bring near My righteousness [in the salvation of Israel], it is not far away;And My salvation will not delay.And I will grant salvation in Zion,And My glory for Israel.