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Das Ende der Götzen Babylons

46 Bel krümmt sich; Nebo ist zusammengebrochen;[a] ihre Bilder sind den Tieren und dem Vieh aufgeladen; eure Prozessionsbilder[b] sind ihnen zur schweren Last geworden, eine Bürde für das erschöpfte Vieh.

Sie sind miteinander zusammengebrochen und niedergesunken und konnten die Last nicht retten; sie selbst mussten in die Gefangenschaft gehen.

Hört auf mich, o du Haus Jakob, und der ganze Überrest vom Haus Israel; ihr, die ihr vom Mutterleib an [mir] aufgeladen, von Geburt an [von mir] getragen worden seid:

Bis in [euer] Greisenalter bin ich derselbe, und bis zu [eurem] Ergrauen will ich euch tragen. Ich habe es getan, und ich will auch fernerhin [euch] heben, tragen und erretten.

Wem wollt ihr mich nachbilden und vergleichen, und wem mich ähnlich machen, dass wir uns gleichen sollten?

Da schütteln sie Gold aus dem Beutel und wiegen Silber mit der Waage ab, sie bezahlen einen Goldschmied, damit er ihnen daraus einen Gott macht, vor dem sie niederfallen, ja, den sie anbeten.

Sie nehmen ihn auf die Schulter, tragen ihn und stellen ihn an seinen Ort; da steht er und rührt sich nicht von der Stelle; ja, man schreit zu ihm, aber er antwortet nicht; er rettet niemand aus seiner Not.

Bedenkt das und erweist euch als Männer und nehmt es euch zu Herzen, ihr Übertreter!

Gedenkt an das Frühere von der Urzeit her, dass Ich Gott bin und keiner sonst; ein Gott, dem keiner zu vergleichen ist.

10 Ich verkündige von Anfang an das Ende, und von der Vorzeit her, was noch nicht geschehen ist. Ich sage: Mein Ratschluss soll zustande kommen, und alles, was mir gefällt, werde ich vollbringen.

11 Ich berufe von Osten her einen Adler und aus fernen Ländern den Mann meines Ratschlusses. Ja, ich habe es gesagt, ich führe es auch herbei; ich habe es geplant, und ich vollbringe es auch.

12 Hört mir zu, die ihr ein stolzes Herz habt und fern von der Gerechtigkeit seid!

13 Ich habe meine Gerechtigkeit nahe gebracht; sie ist nicht fern, und meine Rettung lässt nicht auf sich warten. Ich will in Zion Rettung geben und für Israel meine Herrlichkeit.

Footnotes

  1. (46,1) Bel und Nebo sind Namen der Hauptgottheiten Babels.
  2. (46,1) od. Tragbilder; d.h. Götzenbildnisse, die in Prozessionen feierlich umhergetragen wurden.

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

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.

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

The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

46 (A)Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
    their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
    as burdens on weary beasts.
They stoop; they bow down together;
    they cannot save the burden,
    but (B)themselves go into captivity.

“Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the house of Israel,
(C)who have been borne by me from before your birth,
    carried from the womb;
(D)even to your old age I am he,
    and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
    I will carry and will save.

(E)“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
    and compare me, that we may be alike?
(F)Those who lavish gold from the purse,
    and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
    (G)then they fall down and worship!
(H)They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
    they set it in its place, and it stands there;
    (I)it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
    or save him from his trouble.

“Remember this and stand firm,
    recall it to mind, (J)you transgressors,
    remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me,
10 (K)declaring the end from the beginning
    and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, (L)‘My counsel shall stand,
    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 (M)calling a bird of prey from the east,
    the man of my counsel from a far country.
(N)I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
    I have purposed, and I will do it.

12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
    you who are far from righteousness:
13 (O)I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
    and my salvation will not delay;
(P)I will put salvation in Zion,
    for Israel my glory.”