Babylonia's Gods Are Helpless
The Lord said:
1 The gods Bel and Nebo
are down on their knees,
as wooden images of them
are carried away
on weary animals.
2 They are down on their knees
to rescue the heavy load,
but the images are still taken
to a foreign country.
3 You survivors in Israel,
listen to me, the Lord.
Since the day you were born,
I have carried you along.
4 I will still be the same
when you are old and gray,
and I will take care of you.
I created you. I will carry you
and always keep you safe.
5 Can anyone compare with me?
Is anyone my equal?
6 Some people hire a goldsmith
and give silver and gold
to be formed into an idol
for them to worship.
7 They carry the idol
on their shoulders,
then put it on a stand,
but it cannot move.
They call out to the idol
when they are in trouble,
but it doesn't answer,
and it cannot help.
8 Now keep this in mind,
you sinful people.
And don't ever forget it.
The Lord Alone Is God
9 I alone am God!
There are no other gods;
no one is like me.
Think about what happened
many years ago.
10 From the very beginning,
I told what would happen
long before it took place.
I kept my word 11 and brought
someone from a distant land
to do what I wanted.
He attacked from the east,
like a hawk swooping down.
Now I will keep my promise
and do what I planned.
12 You people are stubborn
and far from being safe,
so listen to me.
13 I will soon come to save you.
I am not far away
and will waste no time;
I take pride in Israel
and will save Jerusalem.
Bābeles dievi
1 Bēls sakņupis, Nebo grīļojas!
Viņu veidoli nu tikuši
zvēriem un lopiem –
tiem jūsu nasta uzkrauta!
2 Tie grīļojas, visi sakrīt,
no nastas tiem neizmukt,
paši aizgājuši gūstā!
3 “Klausies uz mani, Jēkaba nams,
un visi, kas Israēla namam atlikuši, –
kopš tie no klēpja nākuši,
kopš no mātes miesām izkļuvuši,
tā es jau tos nesu!
4 Līdz pat vecumam – es biju tas,
līdz sirmumam – es auklēju tos,
es tos radīju, un es tos nesīšu,
es nesīšu un izglābšu viņus!
5 Ar ko jūs mani salīdzināsiet,
kam pielīdzināsiet,
ar ko samērosiet –
kam gan es līdzīgs?!
6 Bet atrodas tomēr ļaudis,
kas zuteņos pārber zeltu,
kas sudrabu svaros sver,
tad nolīgst zeltkali,
kas uztaisa to par dievu,
tad krīt ceļos un zemojas tam!
7 Tie ceļ to sev plecos un nēsā,
noliek to vietā, lai stāv,
no savas vietas tas nekust,
pat ja tam uzkliedz, tas neatbild
un nelaimē līdzēt nevar!
8 Atcerieties un apdomājiet,
lieciet pie sirds, dumpinieki!
9 Atcerieties, kas bijis kopš senlaikiem,
jo es esmu Dievs un cita nav,
Dievs! – nav cita bez manis!
10 Es jau sākumā teicu, kas notiks beigās,
jau kopš senlaikiem to, kas vēl nav darīts!
Teicu: mans nodoms piepildīsies,
visu, ko gribu, es darīšu!
11 Es no austrumiem sasaucu plēsējputnus,
no tālām zemēm vīrus, kā biju nodomājis, –
es teicu, un es likšu tam notikt,
es sagatavoju, un es to izdarīšu!
12 Klausieties manī,
jūs, kam spītīgas sirdis,
kas no taisnības tālu!
13 Es likšu, lai mana taisnība tuvojas,
tā nav tālu,
un mana glābšana nevilcināsies,
es došu Ciānai glābiņu,
un Israēlam – savu godību!”
