1 POSTROSE Bel, abatióse Nebo; sus simulacros fueron puestos sobre bestias, y sobre animales de carga: os llevarán cargados de vosotros, carga penosa.

2 Fueron humillados, fueron abatidos juntamente; no pudieron escaparse de la carga, sino que tuvieron ellos mismos que ir en cautiverio.

3 Oidme, oh casa de Jacob, y todo el resto de la casa de Israel, los que sois traídos por mí desde el vientre, los que sois llevados desde la matriz.

4 Y hasta la vejez yo mismo, y hasta las canas os soportaré yo: yo hice, yo llevaré, yo soportaré y guardaré.

5 ¿A quién me asemejáis, y me igualáis, y me comparáis, para que sea semejante?

6 Sacan oro del talego, y pesan plata con balanzas, alquilan un platero para hacer un dios de ello; humíllanse y adoran.

7 Echanselo sobre los hombros, llévanlo, y asiéntanlo en su lugar; allí se está, y no se mueve de su sitio. Danle voces, y tampoco responde, ni libra de la tribulación.

8 Acordaos de esto, y tened vergüenza, tornad en vosotros, prevaricadores.

9 Acordaos de las cosas pasadas desde el siglo; porque yo soy Dios, y no hay más Dios, y nada hay á mí semejante;

10 Que anuncio lo por venir desde el principio, y desde antiguo lo que aun no era hecho; que digo: Mi consejo permanecerá, y haré todo lo que quisiere;

11 Que llamo desde el oriente al ave, y de tierra lejana al varón de mi consejo. Yo hablé, y lo haré venir: he lo pensado, y también lo haré.

12 Oidme, duros de corazón, que estáis lejos de la justicia.

13 Haré que se acerque mi justicia, no se alejará: y mi salud no se detendrá. Y pondré salud en Sión, y mi gloria en Israel.

1 Bel is bent down, Nebo is falling; their images are on the beasts and on the cattle: the things which you took about have become a weight to the tired beast.

2 They are bent down, they are falling together: they were not able to keep their images safe, but they themselves have been taken prisoner.

3 Give ear to me, O family of Jacob, and all the rest of the people of Israel, who have been supported by me from their birth, and have been my care from their earliest days:

4 Even when you are old I will be the same, and when you are grey-haired I will take care of you: I will still be responsible for what I made; yes, I will take you and keep you safe.

5 Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?

6 As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.

7 They put him on their backs, and take him up, and put him in his fixed place, from which he may not be moved; if a man gives a cry for help to him, he is unable to give an answer, or get him out of his trouble.

8 Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.

9 Let the things which are past come to your memory: for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me;

10 Making clear from the first what is to come, and from past times the things which have not so far come about; saying, My purpose is fixed, and I will do all my pleasure;

11 Sending for a bird of strong flight from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country; I have said it, and I will give effect to it; the thing designed by me will certainly be done.

12 Give ear to me, you feeble-hearted, who have no faith in my righteousness:

13 My righteousness is near, it is not far off; salvation will come quickly; and I will make Zion free, and give Israel my glory.