Add parallel Print Page Options

Babylon’s Idols and the True God

46 (A)Bel has bowed down, Nebo stoops over;
Their images are on the beasts and the cattle.
The things [a]that you carry are burdensome,
A load for the weary beast.
They stooped over, they have bowed down together;
They could not rescue the load,
But [b]have themselves (B)gone into captivity.

(C)Hear Me, O house of Jacob,
And all (D)the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been (E)burdening Me from [c]birth
And have been carried from the womb;
Even to your old age [d](F)I will be the same,
And even to your [e](G)graying years I will bear you!
I have [f]done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you, and I will rescue you.

(H)To whom would you liken Me
And make Me equal and compare Me,
That we would be alike?
Those who (I)lavish gold from the purse
And weigh silver on the scale,
They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
They (J)fall down, indeed they worship it.
They (K)carry it upon the shoulder and bear it;
They set it in its place, and it stands there.
(L)It does not move from its place.
Though one may cry to it, it (M)cannot answer;
It (N)cannot save him from his distress.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 Lit carried by you
  2. Isaiah 46:2 Or their soul has
  3. Isaiah 46:3 Lit the belly
  4. Isaiah 46:4 Lit I am He
  5. Isaiah 46:4 Lit gray hairs
  6. Isaiah 46:4 Or made you

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle