The False Gods of Babylon
1The gods named Bel and Nebo are brought down in shame.
The statues of them are being carried away on the backs of animals.
They used to be carried around by the people who worshiped them.
But now they’ve become a heavy load for tired animals.
2The gods named Bel and Nebo are brought down in shame together.
They aren’t able to save their own statues.
They themselves are carried off as prisoners.
3The Lord says, “Family of Jacob, listen to me.
Pay attention, you people of Israel who are left alive.
I have taken good care of you since your life began.
I have carried you since you were born as a nation.
4I will continue to carry you even when you are old.
I will take good care of you even when your hair is gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you.
I will take care of you, and I will save you.
I am the Lord.
5“Who will you compare me with?
Who is equal to me?
What am I like?
Who can you compare me with?
6Some people pour out gold from their bags.
They weigh out silver on the scales.
They hire someone who works with gold to make it into a god.
They bow down to it and worship it.
7They lift it up on their shoulders and carry it.
They set it up in its place, and there it stands.
It can’t move from that spot.
Someone might cry out to it.
But it does not answer.
It can’t save them from their troubles.
8So remember this, you who refuse to obey me.
Keep it in your minds and hearts.
9“Remember what happened in the past.
Think about what took place long ago.
I am God. There is no other God.
I am God. There is no one like me.
10Before something even happens, I announce how it will end.
In fact, from times long ago I announced what was still to come.
I say, ‘My plan will succeed.
I will do anything I want to do.’
11I will send for a man from the east to carry out my plan.
From a land far away, he will come like a bird that kills its food.
I will bring about what I have said.
I will do what I have planned.
12Listen to me, you stubborn people.
Pay attention, you who now refuse to do what I have said is right.
13The time is almost here for me to make everything right.
It is not far away.
The time for me to save you will not be put off.
I will save the city of Zion.
I will bring honor to Israel.
Bakatonda b’e Babulooni
146:1 a Is 21:9; Yer 50:2; 51:44 b Is 45:20Beri avunnama,
Nebo akutamye!
Ebifaananyi bya bakatonda baabwe biteekeddwa ku nsolo ez’omu nsiko, era ne ku nte.
Ebifaananyi bya bakatonda baabwe migugu mizito ddala ku ndogoyi ezikooye.
246:2 Bal 18:17-18; 2Sa 5:21Bikutamye byonna bivuunamye.
Tebiyinza kuyamba ku mbeera,
byo byennyini bitwaliddwa mu busibe.
346:3 nny 12“Mumpulire mmwe, ennyumba ya Yakobo
n’abantu bonna abasigaddewo mu nnyumba ya Isirayiri.
Mmwe be nnalera okuva lwe mwava mu lubuto,
be nasitula okuva lwe mwazaalibwa.
446:4 a Zab 71:18 b Is 43:13Ne mu bukadde bwammwe nzija kusigala nga ye nze Nzuuyo.
Ne bwe muliba mulina envi nnaabasitulanga.
Nze nabakola era nze nnaabawekanga.
Nnaabasitulanga era nnaabanunulanga.
546:5 Is 40:18, 25“Ani gwe mulinfaananya era gwe mulinnenkanya
era gwe mulingerageranyaako tufaanane?
646:6 a Is 40:19 b Is 44:17Eriyo abaggya zaabu ennyingi mu nsawo zaabwe
ne bapima ne ffeeza ku minzaani.
Olwo ne bapangisa omuweesi wa zaabu n’agiweesaamu katonda waabwe,
ne bagwa wansi ne basinza.
746:7 a nny 1 b Is 44:17; 45:20Katonda waabwe ne bamusitulira ku kibegabega, ne bamuwa ekifo w’anaayimiriranga.
N’ayimirira awo,
n’atava mu kifo kye.
Oli ne bw’amukaabirira tayinza kumuddamu,
tayinza kumuwonya mu mitawaana gye.
846:8 Is 44:21“Mujjukire kino mmwe, mulowooze mu mitima gyammwe.
Mwekube mu kifuba, mmwe abajeemu.
946:9 a Ma 32:7 b Is 45:5, 21Mujjukire ebigambo ebyasooka eby’edda ennyo.
Kubanga nze Katonda, teri mulala.
Nze Katonda, teri ali nga nze;
1046:10 a Is 45:21 b Nge 19:21; Bik 5:39alanga ku ntandikwa ebigenda okubaawo.
Okuva ku mirembe egy’edda ennyo,
nalanga ebintu ebitannabaawo, nga ŋŋamba nti, ‘Enteekateeka zange zijja kubaawo
era ndituukiriza byonna bye nategeka.’
11Mpita ekinyonyi ekikwakkula ebiramu ebirala.
Omusajja46:11 Kino kyogera ku Kuulo ava ebuvanjuba mu nsi eyewala, anaakola bye njagala.
Weewaawo njogedde era nnaatuukiriza.
Nga bwe nategeka bwe nnaakola.
1246:12 a nny 3 b Zab 119:150; Is 48:1; Yer 2:5Mumpulirize mmwe abalina emitima emikakanyavu,
abakyama ennyo ne bava mu kkubo ly’obutuukirivu.
1346:13 Is 44:23Nsembeza kumpi obutuukirivu bwange,
tebuli wala.
N’obulokozi bwange tebuulwewo.
Ndireeta obulokozi mu Sayuuni,
ne nzizaawo ekitiibwa kyange mu Isirayiri.”