The Bible in Basic English BBE
Orthodox Jewish Bible OJB
1 Bel is bent down, Nebo is falling; their images are on the beasts and on the cattle: the things which you took about have become a weight to the tired beast.
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6 Bel boweth down, Nevo stoopeth low, their atzabim (idols) were upon the beasts, and upon the behemah; your litters were heavy laden; they are a massa (burden) to the weary beast.
2 They are bent down, they are falling together: they were not able to keep their images safe, but they themselves have been taken prisoner.
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They stoop, they bow down together; they [Bel and Nevo, g-ds of Babylon] could not save the massa (burden), but their own selves are gone into shevi (captivity, Golus).
3 Give ear to me, O family of Jacob, and all the rest of the people of Israel, who have been supported by me from their birth, and have been my care from their earliest days:
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Pay heed unto Me, O Bais Ya’akov, and kol She’erit Bais Yisroel, who are borne by Me from birth, who are carried from the rechem (womb);
4 Even when you are old I will be the same, and when you are grey-haired I will take care of you: I will still be responsible for what I made; yes, I will take you and keep you safe.
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And even to your ziknah (old age) I am He; and even to [your] gray hair will I carry you; I have made, and I will carry; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
5 Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?
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Lemi (to whom) will ye compare Me, and make Me equal, and liken Me, that we may be comparable?
6 As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.
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They lavish zahav out of the bag, and weigh kesef on the scale, and hire a tzoref (goldsmith); and he maketh it El (G-d); they fall down, yes, they bow down in worship.
7 They put him on their backs, and take him up, and put him in his fixed place, from which he may not be moved; if a man gives a cry for help to him, he is unable to give an answer, or get him out of his trouble.
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They bear him upon the katef (shoulder), they carry him, and set him up in his place, and he standeth; from his makom shall he not move; yes, though one shall cry out unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his tzoros.
8 Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.
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Remember this, and stand firm; bring it again to lev (heart, mind), O ye poshe’im (rebelling, transgressing ones).
9 Let the things which are past come to your memory: for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me;
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Remember the rishonot (former things) me’olam (of old); for I am El (G-d), and there is not another [G-d]; Elohim, and there is none like Me.
10 Making clear from the first what is to come, and from past times the things which have not so far come about; saying, My purpose is fixed, and I will do all my pleasure;
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Making known acharim (end-times things) from reshit (the beginning), and mikedem (from ancient times) the things that have not yet happened, saying, My etza (counsel, purpose, plan) shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure;
11 Sending for a bird of strong flight from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country; I have said it, and I will give effect to it; the thing designed by me will certainly be done.
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Calling a bird of prey from the mizrach (east), the ish that executeth My etza (counsel, purpose, plan) from a far country; yes, I have spoken it, I will indeed bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
12 Give ear to me, you feeble-hearted, who have no faith in my righteousness:
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Pay heed unto Me, ye abirei lev (stubborn of heart), that are far from tzedakah;
13 My righteousness is near, it is not far off; salvation will come quickly; and I will make Zion free, and give Israel my glory.
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I bring near My tzedakah; it shall not be far off, and My Teshuah (Salvation) shall not tarry; and I will place Teshuah in Tziyon for Yisroel Tife’arti (My Glory).
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.