Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Bel crouches down; Nebo cowers. Their idols sit on animals, on beasts. The objects you once carried about are now borne as burdens by the weary animals.
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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 crouch down and cower together. They aren't able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity.
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They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.
3 Listen to me, house of Jacob, all that remains from the house of Israel who have been borne by me since pregnancy, whom I carried from the womb
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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 until you grow old. I am the one, and until you turn gray I will support you. I have done it, and I will continue to bear it; I will support and I will rescue.
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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 count me equal and compare me so that we are alike?
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To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, as though we were alike?
6 Those who pour out gold from a bag and weigh silver with a balance hire a metalworker; then he makes a god. They bow down; they worship;
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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 carry the idol on their shoulders and support it; they set it down, and it stands still, unable to move from its place. If one cries out to it, it doesn't answer. It can't save people from their distress.
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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 take courage; take it to heart, you rebels.
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Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9 Remember the prior things—from long ago; I am God, and there's no other. I am God! There's none like me,
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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 who tells the end at the beginning, from ancient times things not yet done, saying, "My plan will stand; all that I decide I will do,"
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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 I call a bird of prey from the east, a man from a distant land for my plan. As surely as I have spoken, I'll make it happen; I have planned, and yes, I'll do it.
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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 bullheaded people who are far from victory:
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Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from deliverance:
13 I'm bringing my victory near—it isn't far, and my salvation—it won't delay. I will establish salvation in Zion and grant my splendor to Israel.
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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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.