25BY YAHWEH THEY WILL BE JUSTIFIED AND THEY MAY BOAST ALL [THE] OFFSPRING OF ISRAEL 25In the LORD all descendants of Israel will be justified and will exult.
1HE HAS BOWED DOWN BEL [IS] STOOPING LOW NEBO THEY BELONG IDOLS THEIR TO THE ANIMAL[S] AND TO THE CATTLE BURDENS YOUR [ARE] CARRIED A LOAD FOR A WEARY [ANIMAL] Babylon’s Idols 1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
2THEY HAVE STOOPED LOW THEY HAVE BOWED DOWN TOGETHER NOT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESCUE A BURDEN AND SELF THEIR IN <THE> CAPTIVITY IT HAS GONE 2The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.
3LISTEN TO ME O HOUSE OF JACOB AND ALL [THE] REMNANT OF [THE] HOUSE OF ISRAEL WHO HAVE BEEN CARRIED FROM [THE] BELLY WHO HAVE BEEN BORNE FROM [THE] WOMB 3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.
4AND UNTIL OLD AGE I [AM] HE AND UNTIL GRAY HAIR I I WILL CARRY I I MADE AND I I WILL BEAR AND I I WILL CARRY AND I MAY RESCUE 4Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
5TO WHOM? WILL YOU LIKEN ME AND YOU MAY MAKE [ME] EQUAL? AND WILL YOU COMPARE? ME AND WE MAY BE ALIKE 5To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
6THOSE [WHO] POUR OUT GOLD FROM A BAG AND SILVER ON <THE> SCALE[S] THEY WEIGH OUT THEY HIRE A METALSMITH AND HE MAKES IT A GOD THEY PROSTRATE THEMSELVES ALSO THEY BOW DOWN 6They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
7THEY LIFT UP IT ON A SHOULDER THEY CARRY IT AND THEY SET DOWN IT IN PLACE ITS SO IT MAY STAND FROM PLACE ITS NOT IT DEPARTS ALSO HE CRIES OUT TO IT AND NOT IT ANSWERS FROM TROUBLE HIS NOT IT DELIVERS HIM 7They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
8REMEMBER THIS AND PLUCK UP COURAGE BRING [IT] BACK O REBELS ON HEART 8Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!
9REMEMBER FORMER [THINGS] FROM LONG AGO FOR I [AM] GOD AND THERE NOT [IS] YET GOD AND THERE NOT [IS] LIKE ME 9Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
10[ONE WHO] DECLARES FROM [THE] BEGINNING [THE] END AND FROM ANTIQUITY [THINGS] WHICH NOT THEY HAVE BEEN DONE [ONE WHO] SAYS PURPOSE MY IT WILL BE FULFILLED AND ALL DESIRE MY I WILL ACCOMPLISH 10I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
11[ONE WHO] CALLS FROM [THE] EAST A BIRD OF PREY FROM A LAND OF DISTANCE A MAN OF PURPOSE MY ALSO I HAVE SPOKEN ALSO I WILL BRING IT I HAVE PLANNED ALSO I WILL ACCOMPLISH IT 11I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
12LISTEN TO ME O [PEOPLE] MIGHTY OF HEART O [PEOPLE] DISTANT FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS 12Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:
13I HAVE BROUGHT NEAR RIGHTEOUSNESS MY NOT IT IS FAR AWAY AND SALVATION MY NOT IT WILL DELAY AND I WILL GIVE IN ZION SALVATION TO ISRAEL SPLENDOR MY 13I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor. [’’]