1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast . 2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
3 ¶ Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: 4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you .
5 ¶ To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? 6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. 7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. 8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it , I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it , I will also do it.
12 ¶ Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
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!”
