| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. | 1Bel kneels down, Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts. Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals. |
| 2The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity. | 2Together they bend low and kneel down; they are unable to rescue the images; they themselves head off into captivity. |
| 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. | 3"Listen to me, O family of Jacob, all you who are left from the family of Israel, you who have been carried from birth, you who have been supported from the time you left the womb. |
| 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. | 4Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you. |
| 5To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike? | 5To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared! |
| 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. | 6Those who empty out gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scale hire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god. They then bow down and worship it. |
| 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. | 7They put it on their shoulder and carry it; they put it in its place and it just stands there; it does not move from its place. Even when someone cries out to it, it does not reply; it does not deliver him from his distress. |
| 8Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors! | 8Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels! |
| 9Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. | 9Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me, |
| 10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’ | 10who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, 'My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,' |
| 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. | 11who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, one who carries out my plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out. |
| 12Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness: | 12Listen to me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right. |
| 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. | 13I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing my salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with my splendor." |
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