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46 Bel bows down.
    Nebo stoops.
Their idols are carried by animals,
    and on the livestock.
The things that you carried around are heavy loads,
    a burden for the weary.
They stoop and they bow down together.
    They could not deliver the burden,
    but they have gone into captivity.

“Listen to me, house of Jacob,
    and all the remnant of the house of Israel,
    that have been carried from their birth,
    that have been carried from the womb.
Even to old age I am he,
    and even to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear.
    Yes, I will carry, and will deliver.

“To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal,
    and compare me, as if we were the same?
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.
They bear it on their shoulder.
    They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there.
    It cannot move from its place.
Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer.
    It cannot save him out of his trouble.

“Remember this, and show yourselves men.
    Bring it to mind again, you transgressors.
Remember the former things of old;
    for I am God, and there is no other.
    I am God, and there is none like me.
10 I declare the end from the beginning,
    and from ancient times things that are not yet done.
I say: My counsel will stand,
    and I will do all that I please.
11 I call 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 planned.
    I will also do it.

12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,
    who are far from righteousness!
13 I bring my righteousness near.
    It is not far off,
    and my salvation will not wait.
I will grant salvation to Zion,
    my glory to Israel.

The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

46 (A)Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
    their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
    as burdens on weary beasts.
They stoop; they bow down together;
    they cannot save the burden,
    but (B)themselves go into captivity.

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the house of Israel,
(C)who have been borne by me from before your birth,
    carried from the womb;
(D)even to your old age I am he,
    and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
    I will carry and will save.

(E)“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
    and compare me, that we may be alike?
(F)Those who lavish gold from the purse,
    and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
    (G)then they fall down and worship!
(H)They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
    they set it in its place, and it stands there;
    (I)it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
    or save him from his trouble.

“Remember this and stand firm,
    recall it to mind, (J)you transgressors,
    remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me,
10 (K)declaring the end from the beginning
    and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, (L)‘My counsel shall stand,
    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 (M)calling a bird of prey from the east,
    the man of my counsel from a far country.
(N)I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
    I have purposed, and I will do it.

12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
    you who are far from righteousness:
13 (O)I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
    and my salvation will not delay;
(P)I will put salvation in Zion,
    for Israel my glory.”

Caduta di Babilonia

46 A terra è Bel,
rovesciato è Nebo;
i loro idoli sono per gli animali e le bestie,
caricati come loro fardelli,
come peso sfibrante.
Sono rovesciati, sono a terra insieme,
non hanno potuto salvare chi li portava
ed essi stessi se ne vanno in schiavitù.
Ascoltatemi, casa di Giacobbe
e voi tutti, superstiti della casa di Israele;
voi, portati da me fin dal seno materno,
sorretti fin dalla nascita.
Fino alla vostra vecchiaia io sarò sempre lo stesso,
io vi porterò fino alla canizie.
Come ho gia fatto, così io vi sosterrò,
vi porterò e vi salverò.
A chi mi paragonate e mi assomigliate?
A chi mi confrontate, quasi fossimo simili?
Traggono l'oro dal sacchetto
e pesano l'argento con la bilancia;
pagano un orefice perché faccia un dio,
che poi venerano e adorano.
Lo sollevano sulle spalle e lo portano,
poi lo ripongono sulla sua base e sta fermo:
non si muove più dal suo posto.
Ognuno lo invoca, ma non risponde;
non libera nessuno dalla sua angoscia.
Ricordatevelo e agite da uomini;
rifletteteci, o prevaricatori.
Ricordatevi i fatti del tempo antico,
perché io sono Dio e non ce n'è altri.
Sono Dio, nulla è uguale a me.
10 Io dal principio annunzio la fine
e, molto prima, quanto non è stato ancora compiuto;
io che dico: «Il mio progetto resta valido,
io compirò ogni mia volontà!».
11 Io chiamo dall'oriente l'uccello da preda,
da una terra lontana l'uomo dei miei progetti.
Così ho parlato e così avverrà;
l'ho progettato, così farò.
12 Ascoltatemi, voi che vi perdete di coraggio,
che siete lontani dalla giustizia.
13 Faccio avvicinare la mia giustizia: non è lontana;
la mia salvezza non tarderà.
Io dispenserò in Sion la salvezza
a Israele, oggetto della mia gloria.