Babylon’s Idols

¹ Bel bows down; Nebo is stooping. Their idols are ⌞on⌟¹ animals² and ⌞on⌟³ cattle; your ⌞cargo⌟⁴ is carried as a burden ⌞on⌟⁵ weary animals.

1. Literally “to”
2. Hebrew “animal”
3. Literally “to”
4. Literally “things that are carried”
5. Literally “to”

² They stoop; they bow down together. They are not able to save the burden, but¹ ⌞they themselves go⌟² in captivity.

1. Or “and”
2. Literally “their inner self goes”

³ “Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel who have been carried from the belly, who have been carried from the womb:

⁴ Even¹ to your old age I am he; even² to your advanced age I myself will support you. I myself have made you, and I myself will carry you, and I myself will support you, and I will save you.

1. Or “And”
2. Or “And”

⁵ To whom will you liken me, and count as equal, and compare with me, as though¹ we were alike?

1. Or “and”

⁶ Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh out silver in the balance scales; hire ⌞a goldsmith⌟¹ and he makes him a god; they bow down, indeed they bow in worship.

1. Literally “one who smelts”

⁷ They carry it on their shoulder; they support it and they set it in its place, and it stands in position. It cannot be removed from its place; even when he cries out to it, it does not answer. It does not save him from his trouble.

⁸ Remember this and pluck up courage! Call to ⌞mind⌟,¹ you transgressors!

1. Literally “heart”

⁹ Remember the former things from ⌞a long time ago⌟,¹ for I am God and there is none besides me, God and there is none like me,

1. Literally “forever”

¹⁰ who from the beginning declares the end, and from before, things that have not been done, who says, ‘My plan shall stand,’ and, ‘I will accomplish¹ all my wishes,’²

1. Or “do”
2. Hebrew “wish”

¹¹ who calls a bird of prey from the east, the man of his¹ plan from a country from afar. Indeed I have spoken; indeed I will bring it to being. I have formed it; indeed I will do it.

1. The reading tradition (Qere) has “my”

¹² Listen to me, strong of heart, far from righteousness!

¹³ I bring my righteousness near; it is not far. And my salvation will not delay; and I will put¹ salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.”

1. Or “give”