Isaiah 46
GOD’S WORD Translation
Babylon’s Idols Will Go into Captivity
46 The god Bel bows down; the god Nebo stoops low.
Their statues are seated on animals and cattle.
The gods that you carry are burdens, a load for weary people.
2 These gods stoop low and bow down together.
They aren’t able to escape with heavy loads.
They go away into captivity.
3 Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,
the few people left of the nation of Israel.
I’ve carried you since your birth.
I’ve taken care of you from the time you were born.
4 Even when you’re old, I’ll take care of you.
Even when your hair turns gray, I’ll support you.
I made you and will continue to care for you.
I’ll support you and save you.
5 To whom will you compare me and make me equal?
To whom will you compare me so that we can be alike?
6 People pour gold out of their bags and weigh silver on scales.
They hire a goldsmith. He makes it into a god.
They bow down and worship it.
7 They lift it on their shoulders and carry it.
They set the idol in its place, and it stands there.
It doesn’t move from its place.
If they cry to it for help, it can’t answer.
It can’t rescue them from their distress.
8 Remember this, and take courage.
Recall your rebellious acts.
9 Remember the first events,
because I am God, and there is no other.
I am God, and there’s no one like me.
10 From the beginning I revealed the end.
From long ago I told you things that had not yet happened, saying,
“My plan will stand, and I’ll do everything I intended to do.”
11 I will call a bird of prey from the east.
I will call someone for my plan from a faraway land.
I have spoken, and I will bring it about.
I have planned it, and I will do it.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn people who are far from being righteous.
13 I’ll bring my righteousness near; it isn’t far away.
My salvation will not be delayed.
I’ll provide salvation for Zion
and bring my glory to Israel.
Isaiah 46
Wycliffe Bible
46 Bel is broken, Nebo is all-broken; their simulacra like to wild beasts and work beasts be broken; your burdens with heavy charge till to weariness were rotten, (Bel is broken, Nebo is all-broken; their idols that were worshipped/that were carried in your processions, now be loaded upon work beasts and cattle; now be heavy burdens upon your weary beasts,)
2 and be all-broken together; those might not save the bearer, and the soul of them shall go into captivity. (and be altogether broken; they could not save their bearers-about, and now they themselves shall go into captivity.)
3 The house of Jacob, and all the residue of the house of Israel, hear ye me, which be borne of my womb, which be borne of my womb. (The house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, listen to me, ye who be carried by me from the womb, yea, who be carried by me from the womb, or from thy birth.)
4 Till to eld I myself, and till to hoar hairs, I shall bear; I made, and I shall bear, and I shall save. (Until your old age, yea, until your hoar hairs, I myself shall carry you; for I made you, and I shall carry you, and I shall save you.)
5 To whom have ye likened me, and made even (and made me even to), and have comparisoned me, and have made (me) like?
6 Which bear together gold from the bag (Ye who take out all the gold from thy bag), and weigh (out) silver with a balance, and hire a goldsmith to make a god, and (then) they (all) fall down, and worship (it);
7 they bearing bear (him) in shoulders, and setting in his place (they carry him upon their shoulders, and put him in his place); and he shall stand, and shall not be moved from his place; but also when they cry to him, he shall not hear, and he shall not save them from (any trials or) tribulation.
8 Have ye mind of this, and be ye ashamed; ye trespassers, go again to the heart. (Remember this, and be ye ashamed; ye trespassers, bring this again to mind/remember this.)
9 Bethink ye on the former world, for I am God, no God is over me, neither is like me. (Remember the former times, for I am God, and there is no god over me, nor is there anyone who is even like me.)
10 And I tell from the beginning the last thing, and from the beginning those things that be not made yet; and I say, My counsel shall stand, and all my will shall be done. (And I told out from the beginning what the last things would be, and from the beginning those things that were not yet even made; and I said, My purpose, or my plans, shall stand, and all my will shall be done.)
11 And I call a bird from the east, and the man of my will from a far land; and I spake, and I shall bring that thing (to pass); I have made (all) of nought (I have made everything out of nothing), and I shall make that thing (too).
12 Ye of hard heart, hear me, that be far from rightfulness. (Ye with a hard heart, who be far away from righteousness/who think that victory, or triumph, be far off.)
13 I made nigh mine rightfulness, it shall not be drawn afar, and mine health shall not tarry; I shall give health in Zion, and my glory in Israel. (I have brought my righteousness near/I have brought my victory close, it is not far off, and my deliverance shall not be delayed; I shall give deliverance to Zion, and my glory to Israel.)
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2001 by Terence P. Noble