New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon, bow as they are lowered to the ground. They are being hauled away on ox carts. The poor beasts stagger under the weight.
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Bel bows down, Nevo stoops; their idols are on the animals, and on the cattle: the things that you carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary [animal].
2 Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together.
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They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.
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Listen to me, house of Ya`akov, and all the remnant of the house of Yisra'el, that have been borne [by me] from their birth, that have been carried from the womb;
4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
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and even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry, and will deliver.
5 “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?
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To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
6 Some people pour out their silver and gold and hire a craftsman to make a god from it. Then they bow down and worship it!
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Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down -- yes, they worship.
7 They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.
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They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands, from its place it shall not move: yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
8 “Do not forget this! Keep it in mind! Remember this, you guilty ones.
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Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, you transgressors.
9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.
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Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; [I am] God, and there is none like me;
10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
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declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not [yet] done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;
11 I will call a swift bird of prey from the east— a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.
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calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.
12 “Listen to me, you stubborn people who are so far from doing right.
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Listen to me, you stout-hearted, who are far from righteousness:
13 For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show my glory to Israel.
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I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not wait; and I will place salvation in Tziyon for Yisra'el my glory.