Add parallel Print Page Options

The Idols of Babylon

46 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops,
    their idols are appointed to the beasts and the cattle.
The things that you carry are burdensome;
    they are a burden to the weary beast.
They stoop, they bow down together;
    they could not deliver the burden,
    but themselves have gone into captivity.

Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
    and all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who are borne by Me from birth
    and are carried from the womb:
And even to your old age I am He,
    and even to your graying years I will carry you;
I have done it, and I will bear you;
    even I will carry, and will deliver you.

To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal,
    and compare Me that we may be alike?
They lavish gold out of the bag,
    and weigh silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god;
    they fall down and worship it.
They lift it on the shoulder, they carry it,
    and they set it in its place, and it stands;
    from its place it does not move.
If one shall cry to it, it cannot answer
    nor save him out of his trouble.

Remember this, and show yourselves men;
    bring it to mind again, O transgressors.
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 the things that are not yet done, saying,
“My counsel shall stand,
    and I will do all My good pleasure,”
11 calling a ravenous bird from the east,
    the man who executes My counsel from a far country.
Indeed, I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass.
    I have purposed it; I will also do it.
12 Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted,
    who are far from righteousness;
13 I bring My righteousness near;
    it shall not be far off,
    and My salvation shall not tarry.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
    and My glory for Israel.

Gods of Babylon

46 Bel(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols(B) are borne by beasts of burden.[a]
The images that are carried(C) about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.
They stoop and bow down together;
    unable to rescue the burden,
    they themselves go off into captivity.(D)

“Listen(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,(G)
    and have carried(H) since you were born.(I)
Even to your old age and gray hairs(J)
    I am he,(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain(L) you and I will rescue you.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(M)
Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(N) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.(O)
They lift it to their shoulders and carry(P) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(Q)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(R)
    it cannot save(S) them from their troubles.

“Remember(T) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.(U)
Remember the former things,(V) those of long ago;(W)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.(X)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,(Y)
    from ancient times,(Z) what is still to come.(AA)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,(AB)
    and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon(AC) a bird of prey;(AD)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,(AE) that I will do.(AF)
12 Listen(AG) to me, you stubborn-hearted,(AH)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.(AI)
13 I am bringing my righteousness(AJ) near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation(AK) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,(AL)
    my splendor(AM) to Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle