Isaiah 46 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

1 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. (Isa 21:9; Jer 50:2; Jer 51:44) 2 They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. (Jer 48:7; Ho 10:5) 3 “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; (De 1:31; De 32:11) 4 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. (Ps 71:18) 5 “To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? (Isa 40:18) 6 Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! (Isa 44:10; Isa 44:15) 7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. (Ps 115:7; Isa 45:20) 8 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, (Isa 43:25) 9 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 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (Ps 33:11; Pr 19:21; Isa 41:26; Isa 44:26; Isa 44:28; Heb 6:17)

Ps 33:11Pr 19:21Isa 41:26Isa 44:26Isa 44:28Heb 6:17

11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. (Nu 23:19; Isa 41:2) 12 “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.” (Ps 85:9; Isa 51:5; Isa 56:1; Isa 62:11; Joe 2:32)

Ps 85:9Isa 51:5Isa 56:1Isa 62:11Joe 2:32

New International Version

Gods of Babylon

1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden.^[1] The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary. 2 They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. 3 ‘Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. 4 Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. 5 ‘With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? 6 Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. 7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles. 8 ‘Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. 9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfil my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. 12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from my righteousness. 13 I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendour to Israel.

King James Version

1 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 . 2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity. 3 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: 4 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 . 5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? 6 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. 7 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. 8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9 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.

New International Reader’s Version

The false gods of Babylon

1 The gods named Bel and Nebo are brought down in shame. The statues of them are being carried away on the backs of animals. They used to be carried around by the people who worshipped them. But now they’ve become a heavy load for tired animals. 2 The gods named Bel and Nebo are brought down in shame together. They aren’t able to save their own statues. They themselves are carried off as prisoners. 3 The LORD says, ‘Family of Jacob, listen to me. Pay attention, you people of Israel who are left alive. I have taken good care of you since your life began. I have carried you since you were born as a nation. 4 I will continue to carry you even when you are old. I will take good care of you even when your hair is grey. I have made you, and I will carry you. I will take care of you, and I will save you. I am the LORD. 5 ‘Who will you compare me with? Who is equal to me? What am I like? Who can you compare me with? 6 Some people pour out gold from their bags. They weigh out silver on the scales. They hire someone who works with gold to make it into a god. They bow down to it and worship it. 7 They lift it up on their shoulders and carry it. They set it up in its place, and there it stands. It can’t move from that spot. Someone might cry out to it. But it does not answer. It can’t save them from their troubles. 8 So remember this, you who refuse to obey me. Keep it in your minds and hearts. 9 ‘Remember what happened in the past. Think about what took place long ago. I am God. There is no other God. I am God. There is no one like me. 10 Before something even happens, I announce how it will end. In fact, from times long ago I announced what was still to come. I say, “My plan will succeed. I will do anything I want to do.” 11 I will send for a man from the east to carry out my plan. From a land far away, he will come like a bird that kills its food. I will bring about what I have said. I will do what I have planned. 12 Listen to me, you stubborn people. Pay attention, you who now refuse to do what I have said is right. 13 The time is almost here for me to make everything right. It is not far away. The time for me to save you will not be put off. I will save the city of Zion. I will bring honour to Israel.