New Revised Standard NRS
Common English Bible CEB
1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are on beasts and cattle; these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary animals.
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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.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.
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They crouch down and cower together. They aren't able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity.
3 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;
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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
4 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.
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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.
5 To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, as though we were alike?
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To whom will you liken me and count me equal and compare me so that we are alike?
6 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!
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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;
7 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.
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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.
8 Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors,
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Remember this and take courage; take it to heart, you rebels.
9 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,
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Remember the prior things—from long ago; I am God, and there's no other. I am God! There's none like me,
10 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,"
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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,"
11 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.
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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.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from deliverance:
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Listen to me, you bullheaded people who are far from victory:
13 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.
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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.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible