| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. | 1Bel kneels down, Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts. Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals. |
| 2They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but 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 borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; | 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 am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. | 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. |
| 5“To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? | 5To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared! |
| 6Those 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! | 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 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. | 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. |
| 8“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, | 8Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels! |
| 9remember the former things of old; 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, |
| 10declaring 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,’ | 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,' |
| 11calling 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. | 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. |
| 12“Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness: | 12Listen to me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right. |
| 13I 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.” | 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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