Isaiæ 46
1 Confractus est Bel, contritus est Nabo: facta sunt simulachra eorum bestiis et iumentis, onera vestra gravi pondere usque ad lassitudinem.
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
2 Contabuerunt, et contrita sunt simul: non potuerunt salvare portantem, et anima eorum in captivitatem ibit.
The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.
3 Audite me domus Iacob, et omne residuum domus Israel, qui portamini a meo utero, qui gestamini a mea vulva.
“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.
4 Usque ad senectam ego ipse, et usque ad canos ego portabo: ego feci, et ego feram: ego portabo, et salvabo.
Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
5 Cui assimilastis me, et adaequastis, et comparastis me, et fecistis similem?
To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
6 Qui confertis aurum de sacculo, et argentum statera ponderatis: conducentes aurificem, ut faciat deum: et procidunt, et adorant.
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
7 Portant illum in humeris gestantes, et ponentes in loco suo: stabit, ac de loco suo non movebitur. sed et cum clamaverint ad eum, non audiet: de tribulatione non salvabit eos.
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
8 Mementote istud, et confundamini: redite praevaricatores ad cor.
Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!
9 Recordamini prioris saeculi, quoniam ego sum Deus, et non est ultra Deus, nec est similis mei:
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
10 Annuncians ab exordio novissimum, et ab initio quae necdum facta sunt, dicens: Consilium meum stabit, et omnis voluntas mea fiet:
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
11 Vocans ab Oriente iustum, et de terra longinqua virum voluntatis meae. et locutus sum, et adducam illud: creavi, et faciam illud.
I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
12 Audite me duro corde, qui longe estis a iustitia.
Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:
13 Prope feci iustitiam meam, non elongabitur, et salus mea non morabitur. Dabo in Sion salutem, et in Israel gloriam meam.
I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
