1 “This is the end for Babylon's gods!
Bel and Nebo once were worshiped,
but now they are loaded on donkeys,
a burden for the backs of tired animals.
2 The idols cannot save themselves;
they are captured and carried away.
This is the end for Babylon's gods!
3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,
all who are left of my people.
I have cared for you from the time you were born.
4 I am your God and will take care of you
until you are old and your hair is gray.
I made you and will care for you;
I will give you help and rescue you.
5 “To whom will you compare me?” says the Lord.
“Is there anyone else like me?
6 People open their purses and pour out gold;
they weigh out silver on the scales.
They hire a goldsmith to make a god;
then they bow down and worship it.
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;
they put it in place, and there it stands,
unable to move from where it is.
If any pray to it, it cannot answer
or save them from disaster.
8 “Remember this, you sinners;
consider what I have done.
9 Remember what happened long ago;
acknowledge that I alone am God
and that there is no one else like me.
10 From the beginning I predicted the outcome;
long ago I foretold what would happen.
I said that my plans would never fail,
that I would do everything I intended to do.
11 I am calling a man to come from the east;
he will swoop down like a hawk
and accomplish what I have planned.
I have spoken, and it will be done.
12 “Listen to me, you stubborn people
who think that victory is far away.
13 I am bringing the day of victory near—
it is not far away at all.
My triumph will not be delayed.
I will save Jerusalem
and bring honor to Israel there.”
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!”
