Isaiæ 46
1 Confractus est Bel, contritus est Nabo: facta sunt simulachra eorum bestiis et iumentis, onera vestra gravi pondere usque ad lassitudinem.
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are carried by animals and beasts of burden. These idols that you carry are a heavy burden for weary animals.
2 Contabuerunt, et contrita sunt simul: non potuerunt salvare portantem, et anima eorum in captivitatem ibit.
Together they bend low, kneel down; they cannot rescue the images, and they themselves have gone off 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, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been carried by me from before your birth, carried from the womb.
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 am he, and until your hair is gray I will carry you. I made you and I will bear you; I will carry you and I will rescue you.
5 Cui assimilastis me, et adaequastis, et comparastis me, et fecistis similem?
To whom will you compare me? Who do you think I resemble, so that we may be compared?
6 Qui confertis aurum de sacculo, et argentum statera ponderatis: conducentes aurificem, ut faciat deum: et procidunt, et adorant.
People pour out gold from the bag and weigh silver on the scale. They hire a metalsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down and worship it.
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 on their shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place, and it stands in its place and does not move from it. They cry out to it, but it cannot answer nor save anyone from his trouble.
8 Mementote istud, et confundamini: redite praevaricatores ad cor.
Think about these things; never ignore them, you rebels!
9 Recordamini prioris saeculi, quoniam ego sum Deus, et non est ultra Deus, nec est similis mei:
Think about the earlier things, those of times past, for I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is no one like me.
10 Annuncians ab exordio novissimum, et ab initio quae necdum facta sunt, dicens: Consilium meum stabit, et omnis voluntas mea fiet:
I announce the end from the beginning, and beforehand what has not yet happened; I say, “My plan will happen, and I will do as I desire.”
11 Vocans ab Oriente iustum, et de terra longinqua virum voluntatis meae. et locutus sum, et adducam illud: creavi, et faciam illud.
I call a bird of prey from the east, the man of my choice from a distant land; yes, I have spoken; I will also accomplish it; I have purposed, I will also do it.
12 Audite me duro corde, qui longe estis a iustitia.
Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are far from doing what is right.
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 does not wait; and I will give salvation to Zion and my beauty to Israel.
