Babylon’s Idols and the True God
1Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;
Their idols have become loads for the animals and the cattle.
The things Lit carried by youthat you carry are burdensome,
A load for the weary animal.
2They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the burden,
But Or their soul hashave themselves gone into captivity.
3“Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been carried by Me from Lit the bellybirth
And have been carried from the womb;
And even to your Lit gray hairsgraying years I will Or supportcarry you!
I have Or made youdone it, and I will bear you;
And I will Or supportcarry you and I will save you.
5“To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal, and compare Me,
That we would be alike?
6Those who lavish gold from the bag
And weigh silver on the scale,
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it.
7They lift it on the shoulder, carry it,
And set it in its place, and it stands there.
It does not move from its place.
Though one may shout to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot save him from his distress.
8“Remember this, and be Lit firmassured;
Recall it to Lit heartmind, you wrongdoers.
9Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My plan will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of Lit HisMy purpose from a distant country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, I will certainly do it.
12“Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness.
13I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.
New American Standard Bible
Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020
by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved.
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