Ἠσαΐας 46
1 ἔπεσε Βηλ συνετρίβη Δαγων ἐγένετο τὰ γλυπτὰ αὐτῶν εἰς θηρία καὶ κτήνη αἴρετε αὐτὰ καταδεδεμένα ὡς φορτίον κοπιῶντι
Bel bows down, Nebo bends low; their idols are carried off on beasts of burden, a heavy weight for the tired animals.
2 καὶ πεινῶντι καὶ ἐκλελυμένῳ οὐκ ἰσχύοντι ἅμα οἳ οὐ δυνήσονται σωθῆναι ἀπὸ πολέμου αὐτοὶ δὲ αἰχμάλωτοι ἤχθησαν
They bend low and bow down together—they can't help rescue their idols, and they themselves go off into captivity.
3 ἀκούσατέ μου οἶκος τοῦ Ιακωβ καὶ πᾶν τὸ κατάλοιπον τοῦ Ισραηλ οἱ αἰρόμενοι ἐκ κοιλίας καὶ παιδευόμενοι ἐκ παιδίου
Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all those who are left of the people of Israel. I have looked after you since you were born, carrying you from birth.
4 ἕως γήρους ἐγώ εἰμι καὶ ἕως ἂν καταγηράσητε ἐγώ εἰμι ἐγὼ ἀνέχομαι ὑμῶν ἐγὼ ἐποίησα καὶ ἐγὼ ἀνήσω ἐγὼ ἀναλήμψομαι καὶ σώσω ὑμᾶς
Even when you're old, I will still be your God; even when your hair turns white, I will still support you. I made you, I will carry you, I will support you, and I will save you.
5 τίνι με ὡμοιώσατε ἴδετε τεχνάσασθε οἱ πλανώμενοι
Who will you liken me to? Who will you reckon to be my equal? Who will you compare me with, as if we were alike?
6 οἱ συμβαλλόμενοι χρυσίον ἐκ μαρσιππίου καὶ ἀργύριον ἐν ζυγῷ στήσουσιν ἐν σταθμῷ καὶ μισθωσάμενοι χρυσοχόον ἐποίησαν χειροποίητα καὶ κύψαντες προσκυνοῦσιν αὐτοῖς
There are those who extravagantly tip out gold from their bags, and weigh out silver on the scales, and hire a goldsmith to make them a god they can bow down to and worship.
7 αἴρουσιν αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τῶν ὤμων καὶ πορεύονται ἐὰν δὲ θῶσιν αὐτό ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου αὐτοῦ μένει οὐ μὴ κινηθῇ καὶ ὃς ἂν βοήσῃ πρὸς αὐτόν οὐ μὴ εἰσακούσῃ ἀπὸ κακῶν οὐ μὴ σώσῃ αὐτόν
They lift the idol onto their shoulders, carry it along, and then put it in place. It stays there and doesn't move. Even when people cry out to it for help, it doesn't answer—it can't save them from their troubles.
8 μνήσθητε ταῦτα καὶ στενάξατε μετανοήσατε οἱ πεπλανημένοι ἐπιστρέψατε τῇ καρδίᾳ
Remember this, and act like men! Think about it, you rebels!
9 καὶ μνήσθητε τὰ πρότερα ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰῶνος ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι πλὴν ἐμοῦ
Remember what I've done for you since the beginning, for I am God, and there is no God apart from me. I am God, and there is none like me.
10 ἀναγγέλλων πρότερον τὰ ἔσχατα πρὶν αὐτὰ γενέσθαι καὶ ἅμα συνετελέσθη καὶ εἶπα πᾶσά μου ἡ βουλὴ στήσεται καὶ πάντα ὅσα βεβούλευμαι ποιήσω
I am the one who can predict what will happen in the end from the very beginning, declaring from ancient times what the future will bring. Whatever I plan will take place; I will accomplish everything I wish.
11 καλῶν ἀπ’ ἀνατολῶν πετεινὸν καὶ ἀπὸ γῆς πόρρωθεν περὶ ὧν βεβούλευμαι ἐλάλησα καὶ ἤγαγον ἔκτισα καὶ ἐποίησα ἤγαγον αὐτὸν καὶ εὐόδωσα τὴν ὁδὸν αὐτοῦ
I'm calling a bird of prey from the east, a man from a distant country who will carry out my plan. I have spoken, and I will make sure it happens. I have made my plan, and I will carry it out.
12 ἀκούσατέ μου οἱ ἀπολωλεκότες τὴν καρδίαν οἱ μακρὰν ἀπὸ τῆς δικαιοσύνης
Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are such a long way from doing what's right!
13 ἤγγισα τὴν δικαιοσύνην μου καὶ τὴν σωτηρίαν τὴν παρ’ ἐμοῦ οὐ βραδυνῶ δέδωκα ἐν Σιων σωτηρίαν τῷ Ισραηλ εἰς δόξασμα
Very shortly I am going to make things right—it won't be long. I will come with my salvation without delay—I will save Zion to demonstrate my glory to Israel.
