Isaiah 46
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 46
The Idols of Babylon[a]
1 Bel[b] bows down, Nebo stoops low;
their idols are borne by beasts and cattle.
The images you used to carry on your shoulders
are now a burden for weary animals.
2 They stoop and bow down together
but are unable to transport their burden safely,
and they too move forth into captivity.
3 Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all who remain of the house of Israel,
you who have been carried by me since your birth
and borne by me from the womb.
4 Even when you reach old age
I will still be the same.
Even when your hair is gray,
I will still carry you.
I have made you and I will uphold you;
I will carry you and save you.
5 Whom can you regard as my equal?
To whom can you compare me as identical?
6 Some pour out gold from a purse
and weigh out silver on the scales.
Then they hire a goldsmith
who fashions it into a god
before which they prostrate themselves in adoration.
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;
when they return it to its place, it stands there,
unable to budge from the spot.
If you cry out to it, it cannot reply,
nor can it save anyone from trouble.
8 Remember this and stand firm in your resolve;
keep it foremost in your mind, you rebels.
9 Remember the things that happened long ago;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like me.
10 From the beginning I reveal the end;
in advance I foretell what has not yet occurred.
I proclaim that my plan will be fulfilled
and that I will accomplish my intention.
11 I summon a bird of prey from the east,
a man from a distant country to fulfill my purpose.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
what I have planned, I will accomplish.
12 Listen to me, you whose hearts are stubborn
and who are far removed from deliverance.
13 I will bring near my justice;
it is not far distant,
and my salvation will not be delayed.
I will grant my salvation to Zion
and my glory to Israel.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 46:1 The Chaldeans fleeing before Cyrus carry away their idols, marking the end of an empire and a religion. Israel, on the contrary, is always led by its God. The legions of Cyrus with their eagle banner (the bird of prey in v. 11) cause chaos among the peoples; Israel is to see in the event an action of God for their salvation.
- Isaiah 46:1 Bel: the title of the principal Babylonian divinity; Nebo, his son, was the god of wisdom.
Jesaja 46
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015
Babels gudar faller
46 (A) Bel sjunker ner,
Nebo[a] måste böja sig,
deras bilder läggs på djur
och boskap.
De som ni bar på är en belastning,
en börda för den trötte.
2 (B) Tillsammans sjunker de ihop
och böjer sig.
De kan inte rädda bördan,
de måste själva gå i fångenskap.
3 (C) Så hör på mig, ni av Jakobs hus,
alla ni som är kvar av Israels folk,
ni som har varit lagda på mig
från moderlivet,
burna av mig ända från
modersskötet.
4 (D) Jag Är densamme tills ni blir gamla,
och jag ska bära er
ända tills ni blir grå.
Jag har gjort det förut[b],
och jag kommer att lyfta,
bära och rädda er.
5 (E) Med vem vill ni likna
och jämföra mig?
Med vem vill ni jämställa mig,
så att vi skulle vara lika?
6 (F) Man skakar ut guld ur börsen
och väger upp silver på vågen.
Man lejer en guldsmed
för att göra det till en gud,
som man faller ner för och tillber.
7 (G) Man lyfter upp den på axeln,
bär bort den och sätter ner den
på dess plats.
Där står den
och kan inte gå därifrån.
Ropar någon till den,
kan den inte svara
och rädda honom ur hans nöd.
8 Tänk på detta och fatta mod!
Ta det till hjärtat, ni upproriska.
9 (H) Kom ihåg det som hänt
för länge sedan,
för jag är Gud,
och det finns ingen annan Gud,
ingen som jag.
10 (I) Jag förkunnar från början
vad som ska komma
och långt i förväg
det som inte har skett.
Jag säger:
Mitt beslut ska förverkligas,
allt jag vill kommer jag att göra.
11 (J) Jag kallar på örnen från öster,
från fjärran land en man
som verkställer mitt beslut.
Vad jag talat låter jag ske,
vad jag beslutat utför jag.
12 Hör på mig, ni självsäkra,
ni som är fjärran
från rättfärdighet:
13 (K) Jag låter min rättfärdighet
komma nära,
den är inte långt borta,
min frälsning dröjer inte.
Jag ger frälsning i Sion,
min härlighet åt Israel.
Isaiah 46
King James Version
46 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9 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 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
Svenska Folkbibeln 2015, Copyright © 2015 by Svenska Folkbibeln Foundation