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.

They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

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:

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.

To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

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.

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.

Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

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.

Babylon’s Idols and the True God

46 Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;
Their idols are on the beasts [of burden] and on the cattle.
Your burdens [of idols] are loaded [on them],
Burdens on the weary animals.

They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the burden [of their own idols],
But have themselves gone into captivity.


“Listen to Me,” [says the Lord], “O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been carried by Me from your birth
And have been carried [in My arms] from the womb,

Even to your old age I am He,
And even to your advanced old age I will carry you!
I have made you, and I will carry you;
Be assured I will carry you and I will save you.


“To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we may be alike?(A)

“Those who lavish gold from the bag
And weigh out silver on the scales
Hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They bow down, indeed they worship it.

“They lift it on their shoulders [in religious processions or into battle] and carry it;
They set it in its place and there it remains standing.
It cannot move from its place.
Even if one cries to it [for help], the idol cannot answer;
It cannot save him from his distress.


“Remember this, and take courage;
Take it to heart, you rebellious and disloyal people.

“Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past;
For I am God, and there is no one else;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 
Declaring the end and the result from the beginning,
And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’
11 
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
From a far country, the man (Cyrus) of My purpose.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, be assured I will do it.

12 
“Listen to Me, you stiff-necked people,
You who are far from righteousness (right standing with God).
13 
“I bring near My righteousness [in the salvation of Israel], it is not far away;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.

46 Se ha postrado Bel(A), se derrumba Nebo;
Sus imágenes son puestas sobre bestias, sobre animales de carga.
Sus bultos son pesados,
Una carga agobiadora para la bestia fatigada.
Se derrumbaron, a una se han postrado.
No pudieron salvar la carga,
Sino que ellos mismos han ido[a] en cautividad(B).

«Escúchenme(C), casa de Jacob,
Y todo el remanente(D) de la casa de Israel,
Los que han sido llevados por Mí desde el vientre(E),
Cargados desde la matriz.
Aun hasta su vejez, Yo seré el mismo[b](F),
Y hasta sus años avanzados[c](G), Yo los sostendré.
Yo lo he hecho[d], y Yo los cargaré;
Yo los sostendré, y Yo los libraré.

»¿A quién me asemejarán,
Me igualarán o me compararán
Para que seamos semejantes(H)?
Los que derrochan el oro de la bolsa
Y pesan la plata en la balanza(I)
Pagan a un orfebre para que haga un dios de ello,
Se postran y[e] lo adoran(J).
Lo levantan(K) en hombros y lo llevan;
Lo colocan en su lugar y allí se está.
No se mueve(L) de su lugar.
Aunque alguien clame a él, no responde(M),
De su angustia no lo libra(N).

»Acuérdense de esto, y estén confiados[f](O);
Pónganlo[g] en su corazón, transgresores(P).
Acuérdense de las cosas anteriores ya pasadas(Q),
Porque Yo soy Dios, y no hay otro(R);
Yo soy Dios, y no hay ninguno(S) como Yo,
10 Que declaro el fin desde el principio,
Y desde la antigüedad lo que no ha sido hecho.
Yo digo: “Mi propósito será establecido,
Y todo lo que quiero realizaré(T)”.
11 Yo llamo del oriente(U) un ave de rapiña(V),
Y de tierra lejana al hombre de Mi[h] propósito.
En verdad he hablado, y ciertamente haré que suceda;
Lo he planeado, así lo haré(W).

12 »Escúchenme(X) ustedes, duros de corazón(Y),
Que están lejos de la justicia(Z).
13 Yo acerco Mi justicia, no está lejos(AA);
Y Mi salvación no tardará.
Pondré salvación en Sión(AB),
Y para Israel será Mi gloria(AC).

Notas al pie

  1. Isaías 46:2 Lit. y su alma ha ido.
  2. Isaías 46:4 Lit. yo soy Él.
  3. Isaías 46:4 Lit. sus canas.
  4. Isaías 46:4 O Yo los he hecho.
  5. Isaías 46:6 Lit. ciertamente.
  6. Isaías 46:8 Lit. firmes.
  7. Isaías 46:8 Lit. vuélvanlo a.
  8. Isaías 46:11 Lit. su.