Babylon’s Idols 1 CPDV Bel has been broken. Nebo has been crushed. Their idols have been placed upon beasts and cattle, your grievous heavy burdens, even unto exhaustion. BSB BSB: Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
2 CPDV They have been melted down, or have been smashed together. They were not able to save the one who carried them, and their life will go into captivity. BSB BSB: The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.
3 CPDV Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are carried in my bosom, who were born from my womb. BSB BSB: “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.
4 CPDV Even to your old age, I am the same. And even with your grey hairs, I will carry you. I have made you, and I will sustain you. I will carry you, and I will save you. BSB BSB: Even 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.
5 CPDV To whom would you liken me, or equate me, or compare me, or consider me to be similar? BSB BSB: To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
6 CPDV You take gold from a bag, and you weigh silver on a scale, so as to hire a goldsmith to make a god. And they fall prostrate and adore. BSB BSB: They 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.
7 CPDV They carry him on their shoulders, supporting him, and they set him in his place. And he will stand still and will not move from his place. But even when they will cry out to him, he will not hear. He will not save them from tribulation. BSB BSB: They 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.
8 CPDV Remember this, and be confounded. Return, you transgressors, to the heart. BSB BSB: Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!
9 CPDV Remember the past ages. For I am God, and there is no other god. There is no one like me. BSB BSB: Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
10 CPDV From the beginning, I announce the last things, and from the start, the things that have not yet been done, saying: My plan will stand firm, and my entire will shall be done. BSB BSB: I 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 CPDV I call a bird from the east, and from a far away land, the man of my will. And I have spoken it, and I will carry it out. I have created, and I will act. BSB BSB: I 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.
12 CPDV Hear me, you who are hard of heart, who are far from justice! BSB BSB: Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:
13 CPDV I have brought my justice near. It will not be far away, and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation in Zion, and my glory in Israel. BSB BSB: I 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.