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

巴比伦的假神

46 彼勒屈膝跪下,

尼波弯腰降服。
这些巴比伦的偶像成为野兽和牲畜背上的重负,
使其疲惫不堪。
它们一同屈膝降服,
不但救不了被掳的巴比伦人,
自己也被掳去。

耶和华说:“雅各家啊,以色列家的余民啊,要听我说。
你们一出生,我就照顾你们;
一出母胎,我就呵护你们。
即使你们年老发白的时候,
我仍然一如既往地扶持你们。
我造了你们,必照顾你们,
扶持你们,拯救你们。

“你们拿谁与我相比,
使之与我同等呢?
你们把谁比作我,
使之与我相同呢?
有些人从囊中取金子,
又用天平称银子,
雇银匠制造神像,
然后向它俯伏叩拜。
他们把神像抬起来扛在肩上,
找个地方把它安置好,
它就在那里呆立不动。
人向它呼求,它不能回应,
也不能救人脱离困境。

“你们这些悖逆的人啊,
要将这些事铭记在心。
你们要记住古时发生的事,
因为我是独一无二的上帝,
再没有谁能与我相比。
10 我从太初就预言末后的事,
从亘古就宣布将来的事。
我的旨意必成就,
我的计划必实现。
11 我从东方召来鸷鸟,
从遥远的地方召人来成就我的计划。
我言出必行,
必成就自己的计划。
12 你们这些冥顽不灵、
远离公义的人啊,听我说。
13 我要亲自施行公义,
那一天已经不远,
我的救恩很快就会来临。
我要在锡安赐下救恩,
把我的荣耀赐给以色列。

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