Isaiah 46 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Chapter 46

The Gods of Babylon

1 Bel bows down, Nebo[a] stoops,
their idols set upon beasts and cattle;
They must be borne upon shoulders,
a load for weary animals.
2 They stoop and bow down together;
unable to deliver those who bear them,
they too go into captivity.

3 Hear me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
My burden from the womb,
whom I have carried since birth.(A)
4 Even to your old age I am he,
even when your hair is gray I will carry you;
I have done this, and I will lift you up,
I will carry you to safety.

5 To whom would you liken me as an equal,
compare me, as though we were alike?
6 There are those who pour out gold from a purse
and weigh out silver on the scales;
They hire a goldsmith to make it into a god
before which they bow down in worship.
7 They lift it to their shoulders to carry;
when they set it down, it stays,
and does not move from the place.
They cry out to it, but it cannot answer;
it delivers no one from distress.

8 Remember this and be firm,
take it to heart, you rebels;
9 remember the former things, those long ago:
I am God, there is no other;
I am God, there is none like me.
10 At the beginning I declare the outcome;
from of old, things not yet done.
I say that my plan shall stand,
I accomplish my every desire.

11 I summon from the east a bird of prey,[b]
from a distant land, one to carry out my plan.
Yes, I have spoken, I will accomplish it;
I have planned it, and I will do it.
12 Listen to me, you fainthearted,
far from the victory of justice:
13 I am bringing on that victory, it is not far off,
my salvation shall not tarry;
I will put salvation within Zion,
give to Israel my glory.

Footnotes

  1. 46:1–4 Bel…Nebo: gods of Babylon; their complete helplessness is here contrasted with God’s omnipotence; whereas they must be carried about, the Lord carries Israel as a parent does a child.
  2. 46:11 From the east a bird of prey: Cyrus; cf. 41:2–4.

Cross references

  1. 46:3 : Is 44:2.

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Isaiah 46 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

46 Bowed down hath Bel, stooping is Nebo, Their idols have been for the beast and for cattle, Your burdens are loaded, a burden to the weary. 2 They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And themselves into captivity have gone. 3 Hearken unto Me, O ho...
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Isaiah 46 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

46 Bel is broken, Nebo is all-broken; their simulacra like to wild beasts and work beasts be broken; your burdens with heavy charge till to weariness were rotten, (Bel is broken, Nebo is all-broken; their idols that were worshipped/that were carried in your processions, now be loaded upon work beast...
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Isaiah 46 - World English Bible (WEB)

46 Bel bows down. Nebo stoops.Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock.The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary.2 They stoop and they bow down together. They could not deliver the burden, but they have gone into captivity. 3 “Listen to me, house of J...
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Isaiah 46 - The Voice (VOICE)

46 Bel and Nebo wobble and duck, as their images sway on the backs of oxen and donkeys—such a heavy burdenFor the weary animals—as they are carried about.2 These “gods” bow and sink together, unable to escape the coming invasion; they march off into captivity. The gods of the nations must have looke...
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Isaiah 46 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Idols a Weary Burden46 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops over.Their idols are for beasts and cattle.The things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.2 They stoop, they bow down together,they cannot save the burden,but themselves go into captivity.3 “Listen to Me, house of Jacob,all the remnant of ...
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Isaiah 46 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

46 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops,their idols are on beasts and cattle;these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary beasts.2 They stoop, they bow down together, they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. 3 “Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Isr...
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Isaiah 46 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

46 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops,their idols are on beasts and cattle;these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary beasts.2 They stoop, they bow down together, they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. 3 “Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Isr...
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Isaiah 46 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

46 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are on beasts and cattle;these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary animals.2 They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. 3 Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Isr...
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Isaiah 46 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

46 Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and cattle;these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary animals.(A)2 They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden but themselves go into captivity.(B)3 Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of...
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Isaiah 46 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Babylon’s False Gods46 Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon, bow as they are lowered to the ground.They are being hauled away on ox carts. The poor beasts stagger under the weight.2 Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people,and the people cannot protect the gods...
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Isaiah 46 - New Life Version (NLV)

False Gods and the Living God46 The false gods, Bel and Nebo, bow down. Their objects of worship were put on animals and cattle and the wagons had heavy loads making it hard for the tired animals. 2 They get down, they bow down together. They could not save the heavy load, but are themselves carrie...
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Isaiah 46 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Dead Idols and the Living God46 Bel (A)bows down, Nebo stoops;Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle.Your carriages were heavily loaded,(B)A burden to the weary beast.2 They stoop, they bow down together;They could not deliver the burden,(C)But have themselves gone into captivity. 3 “Liste...
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Isaiah 46 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Gods of Babylon46 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden.[a]The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary.2 They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity. 3 ‘Listen to me, you descend...
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Isaiah 46 - New International Version (NIV)

Gods of Babylon46 Bel(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols(B) are borne by beasts of burden.[a]The images that are carried(C) about are burdensome, a burden for the weary.2 They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity.(D) 3 “Listen(E) to ...
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Isaiah 46 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The False Gods of Babylon46 The 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.2 The gods named Bel and Nebo a...
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Isaiah 46 - New English Translation (NET)

The Lord Carries His People46 Bel[a] kneels down,Nebo[b] bends low.Their images weigh down animals and beasts.[c]Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.[d]2 Together they bend low and kneel down;they are unable to rescue the images;[e]they themselves[f] head off into captivity.[g]3 “Liste...
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