46 1 The destruction of Babylon and of their idols. 3 He calleth the Jews to the consideration of his works.

Bel is bowed down: [a]Nebo is fallen: their idols were upon their [b]beasts, and upon the cattle: they which did bear you, were laden with a weary burden.

[c]They are bowed down, and fallen together, for they could not rid them of the burden, and their [d]soul is gone into captivity.

Hear ye me, O house of Jacob, and all that remain of the house of Israel, which are [e]born of me from the womb, and brought up of me from the birth.

Therefore unto [f]old age, I the same, even I will bear you until the hoary hairs: I have made you: I will also bear you, and I will carry you, and I will deliver you.

¶ To whom will ye make me like, or make me equal, or [g]compare me that I should be like him?

They draw gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith to make a god of it, and they bow down and worship it.

They bear it upon the shoulders: they carry him and set him in his place: so doth he stand, and cannot remove from his place. Though one cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor deliver him out of his tribulation.

Remember this, and be ashamed: bring it again to [h]mind, O you transgressors.

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none other God, and there is nothing like me,

10 Which declare the last thing from the beginning, and from of old: the things that were not done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do whatsoever I will.

11 I call a [i]bird from the East, and the man of my [j]counsel from far: as I have spoken, so will I bring it to pass: I have purposed it, and I will do it.

12 Hear me ye stubborn hearted, that are far from [k]justice.

13 I bring [l]near my justice: it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: for I will give salvation in Zion, and my glory unto Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 These were the chief idols of Babylon.
  2. Isaiah 46:1 Because they were of gold and silver, the Medes and Persians carried them away.
  3. Isaiah 46:2 The beasts that carried the idols, fell down under their burden.
  4. Isaiah 46:2 He derideth the idols, which had neither soul nor sense.
  5. Isaiah 46:3 He showeth the difference between the idols and the true God: for they must be carried of others, but God himself carrieth his, as Deut. 32:11.
  6. Isaiah 46:4 Seeing I have begotten you, I will nourish and preserve you forever.
  7. Isaiah 46:5 The people of God, setting their own calamity, and the flourishing estate of the Babylonians, should be tempted to think that their God was not so mighty as the idols of their enemies: therefore he describeth the original of all the idols to make them to be abhorred of all men: showing that the most that can be spoken in their commendation, is but to prove them vile.
  8. Isaiah 46:8 Become wise, meaning, that all idolaters are without wit or sense, like mad men.
  9. Isaiah 46:11 That is, Cyrus, which shall come as swift as a bride, and fight against Babylon.
  10. Isaiah 46:11 Him by whom I have appointed to execute that which I have determined.
  11. Isaiah 46:12 Which by your incredulity would let the performance of my promise.
  12. Isaiah 46:13 He showeth that man’s incredulity cannot abolish the promise of God, Rom. 3:3.

46 Bel è caduto, Nebo è crollato; e i loro idoli sono portati via da bestie da soma e da giumenti; le cose che voi trasportavate sono caricate come pesanti fardelli per le bestie affaticate.

Sono crollati, sono caduti insieme; non hanno potuto salvare il carico, ma essi stessi sono andati in cattività.

«Ascoltatemi, o casa di Giacobbe e tutto il residuo della casa d'Israele, che siete stati da me sorretti fin dalla nascita che siete stati portati fin dal grembo materno:

"Fino alla vostra vecchiaia io sarò lo stesso, io vi porterò fino alla canizie. Io vi ho fatto ed io vi sosterrò; sí, vi porterò e vi salverò".

A chi mi vorreste assomigliare e uguagliare, a chi mi vorreste paragonare quasi fossimo simili?

Costoro profondono l'oro dalla borsa e pesano l'argento con la bilancia, pagano un orefice perché ne faccia un dio; poi gli si prostrano davanti e l'adorano.

Se lo caricano sulle spalle e lo portano, lo mettono al suo posto e là rimane; dal suo posto non si muove più. Anche se uno grida a lui, non risponde né lo salva dalla sua sventura.

Ricordate questo e mostratevi uomini! Richiamatelo alla mente, o trasgressori.

Ricordate le cose passate di molto tempo fa, perché io sono Dio e non c'è alcun' altro; sono DIO e nessuno è simile a me,

10 che annuncio la fine fin dal principio, e molto tempo prima le cose non ancora avvenute, che dico: "Il mio piano sussisterà e farò tutto ciò che mi piace",

11 che chiamo dall'est un uccello da preda e da una terra lontana l'uomo che eseguirà il mio disegno. Sí, ho parlato e lo farò avvenire; ne ho formato il disegno e lo eseguirò.

12 Ascoltatemi ostinati di cuore, che siete lontani dalla giustizia.

13 Faccio avvicinare la mia giustizia, non è lontana, la mia salvezza, non tarderà. Porrò la salvezza in Sion e farò vedere la mia gloria a Israele».

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

Dead Idols and the Living God

46 Bel (A)bows down, Nebo stoops;
Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle.
Your carriages were heavily loaded,
(B)A burden to the weary beast.
They stoop, they bow down together;
They could not deliver the burden,
(C)But have themselves gone into captivity.

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
(D)Who have been upheld by Me from [a]birth,
Who have been carried from the womb:
Even to your old age, (E)I am He,
And even to gray hairs (F)I will carry you!
I have made, and I will bear;
Even I will carry, and will deliver you.

“To(G) whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal
And compare Me, that we should be alike?
(H)They lavish gold out of the bag,
And weigh silver on the scales;
They hire a (I)goldsmith, and he makes it a god;
They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.
(J)They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it
And set it in its place, and it stands;
From its place it shall not move.
Though (K)one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer
Nor save him out of his trouble.

“Remember this, and [b]show yourselves men;
(L)Recall to mind, O you transgressors.
(M)Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and (N)there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 (O)Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, (P)‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’
11 Calling a bird of prey (Q)from the east,
The man (R)who executes My counsel, from a far country.
Indeed (S)I have spoken it;
I will also bring it to pass.
I have purposed it;
I will also do it.

12 “Listen to Me, you (T)stubborn-hearted,
(U)Who are far from righteousness:
13 (V)I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off;
My salvation (W)shall not [c]linger.
And I will place (X)salvation in Zion,
For Israel My glory.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:3 Lit. the belly
  2. Isaiah 46:8 be men, take courage
  3. Isaiah 46:13 delay