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.
Miungu Ya Babeli
146:1 Yer 51:44; Isa 45:20; 21:9; Yer 50:2Beli anasujudu hadi nchi, Nebo anainama;
sanamu zao zabebwa na wanyama wa mizigo.
Vinyago hivi mnavyobeba kila mahali ni mzigo wa kulemea,
mzigo kwa waliochoka.
246:2 2Sam 5:21; Yer 51:47; Amu 18:17-18Vinyago pamoja na wale wanaovibeba wanainama chini;
hiyo miungu haiwezi kuwaokoa watu,
wote wanakwenda utumwani pamoja.
346:3 Isa 48:12; Kut 19:14; Isa 44:2; Kum 1:31; Za 28:9; 22:10“Nisikilizeni mimi, ee nyumba ya Yakobo,
ninyi nyote mliobaki wa nyumba ya Israeli,
ninyi ambao nimewategemeza tangu mlipotungwa mimba,
nami nimewabeba tangu kuzaliwa kwenu.
446:4 Mal 3:6; Za 71:18; Isa 43:13; Kum 32:39; Za 18:35; 119:117Hata mpaka wakati wa uzee wenu na mvi, Mimi ndiye,
Mimi ndiye nitakayewasaidia ninyi.
Nimewahuluku, nami nitawabeba,
nitawasaidia ninyi na kuwaokoa.
546:5 Kut 15:11; Ay 41:10; Isa 40:18, 25; Yer 49:19“Mtanilinganisha na nani, au mtanihesabu kuwa sawa na nani?
Ni nani mtakayenifananisha naye ili tuweze kulinganishwa?
646:6 Kut 20:5; Hos 13:2; Isa 40:19; 44:17Wengine humwaga dhahabu kutoka kwenye mifuko yao,
na kupima fedha kwenye mizani;
huajiri mfua dhahabu kutengeneza mungu,
kisha huisujudia na kuiabudu.
746:7 1Sam 5:3; Isa 41:7; 1Fal 16:26Huiinua mabegani na kuichukua;
huiweka mahali pake, papo hapo ndipo isimamapo.
Wala haiwezi kusogea kutoka mahali pale.
Ingawa mtu huililia, haimjibu;
haiwezi kumwokoa kwenye taabu zake.
846:8 Isa 44:21; 1:2“Kumbukeni hili, litieni akilini,
liwekeni moyoni, enyi waasi.
946:9 Kum 8:10; Kut 8:10; Mk 12:32; Isa 41:22; 45:21Kumbukeni mambo yaliyopita, yale ya zamani za kale;
mimi ndimi Mungu, wala hakuna mwingine;
mimi ndimi Mungu,
wala hakuna mwingine aliye kama mimi.
1046:10 Mit 19:21; Efe 1:11; Mdo 5:39; Isa 45:21; 41:22; 7:7-9; 44:26Ni mimi nitangazaye mwisho tangu mwanzo,
naam, tangu zamani za kale,
mambo ambayo hayajatendeka.
Ninasema: Kusudi langu ndilo litakalosimama,
nami nitatenda mapenzi yangu yote.
1146:11 Mwa 41:25; Yer 44:28; Amu 4:10; Ezr 1:2; Isa 8:5Kutoka mashariki ninaita ndege awindaye;
kutoka nchi ya mbali,
mtu atakayetimiza kusudi langu.
Lile ambalo nimelisema, ndilo nitakalolitimiza;
lile nililolipanga, ndilo nitakalolitenda.
1246:12 Yer 2:5; Za 119:150; Rum 10:3; Kut 32:9; Isa 9:9Nisikilizeni, ninyi wenye mioyo migumu,
ninyi mlio mbali na haki.
1346:13 Isa 24:23; Mdo 13:36; Rum 1:17; Isa 1:26; 45:8; Rum 3:21; Yoe 2:32Ninaleta haki yangu karibu,
haiko mbali;
wala wokovu wangu hautachelewa.
Nitawapa Sayuni wokovu,
Israeli utukufu wangu.
