There is No One Like God

46 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.(A)
Their idols are consigned to beasts and cattle.
The images you carry are loaded,
as a burden for the weary animal.
The gods cower; they crouch together;
they are not able to rescue the burden,
but they themselves go into captivity.(B)

“Listen to Me, house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been sustained from the womb,
carried along since birth.
I will be the same until your old age,(C)
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and save you.

“Who will you compare Me or make Me equal to?
Who will you measure Me with,
so that we should be like each other?(D)
Those who pour out their bags of gold
and weigh out silver on scales—
they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god.
Then they kneel and bow down to it.(E)
They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along;(F)
they set it in its place, and there it stands;
it does not budge from its place.(G)
They cry out to it but it doesn’t answer;
it saves no one from his trouble.

“Remember this and be brave;[a]
take it to heart, you transgressors!
Remember what happened long ago,(H)
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and no one is like Me.
10 I declare the end from the beginning,
and from long ago what is not yet done,
saying: My plan will take place,
and I will do all My will.(I)
11 I call a bird of prey[b] from the east,(J)
a man for My purpose from a far country.
Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about.(K)
I have planned it; I will also do it.
12 Listen to me, you hardhearted,
far removed from justice:
13 I am bringing My justice near;(L)
it is not far away,
and My salvation will not delay.
I will put salvation in Zion,
My splendor in Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:8 Hb obscure
  2. Isaiah 46:11 = Cyrus

46 Se postró Bel, se abatió Nebo. Sus imágenes fueron puestas sobre bestias, y sobre animales de carga, que os llevarán, cargadas de vosotros, carga de cansancio.

Fueron encorvados, fueron abatidos juntamente; y no pudieron escaparse de la carga; y su alma tuvo que ir en cautividad.

Oídme, oh casa de Jacob, y todo el resto de la casa de Israel: los que sois traídos de vientre, los que sois llevados de matriz.

Y hasta la vejez yo mismo; y hasta las canas, yo os soportaré. Yo hice, yo llevaré, yo soportaré, y guardaré.

¿A quién me asemejáis, y me igualáis, y me comparáis, para ser semejante?

Sacan oro de su talegón, y pesan plata con balanzas; alquilan un platero para hacer un dios de él; se humillan y adoran.

Se lo echan sobre los hombros, lo llevan, y lo sientan en su lugar. Allí se está, y no se mueve de su lugar; le dan voces, y tampoco responde, ni libra de la tribulación.

Acordaos de esto, y tened vergüenza; tornad en vosotros, prevaricadores.

Acordaos de las cosas pasadas desde el siglo, porque yo soy Dios, y no hay más Dios; y nada hay a mí semejante.

10 Que anuncio lo por venir desde el principio: y desde antiguamente, lo que aún no era hecho. Que digo: Mi consejo permanecerá, y haré todo lo que quisiere.

11 Que llamo desde el oriente al ave de rapiña, y de tierra lejana al varón de mi consejo. Yo hablé, por eso lo haré venir; lo pensé, y también lo haré.

12 Oídme duros de corazón, que estáis lejos de la justicia.

13 Haré a mi justicia que se acerque, y no se alejará; y mi salvación no se detendrá. Y pondré salvación en Sion; y mi gloria en Israel.

Gods of Babylon

46 Bel(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols(B) are borne by beasts of burden.[a]
The images that are carried(C) about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.
They stoop and bow down together;
    unable to rescue the burden,
    they themselves go off into captivity.(D)

“Listen(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,(G)
    and have carried(H) since you were born.(I)
Even to your old age and gray hairs(J)
    I am he,(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain(L) you and I will rescue you.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(M)
Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(N) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.(O)
They lift it to their shoulders and carry(P) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(Q)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(R)
    it cannot save(S) them from their troubles.

“Remember(T) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.(U)
Remember the former things,(V) those of long ago;(W)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.(X)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,(Y)
    from ancient times,(Z) what is still to come.(AA)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,(AB)
    and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon(AC) a bird of prey;(AD)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,(AE) that I will do.(AF)
12 Listen(AG) to me, you stubborn-hearted,(AH)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.(AI)
13 I am bringing my righteousness(AJ) near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation(AK) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,(AL)
    my splendor(AM) to Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle