| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Bel bows down; Nebo stoops; their idols are on beasts and livestock; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts. | 1Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Idols depicting them are consigned to beasts and cattle. The images you carry are loaded, as a burden for the weary animal. |
| 2They stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity. | 2The gods cower; they crouch together; they are not able to rescue the burden, but they themselves go into captivity. |
| 3“Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; | 3"Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth. |
| 4even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. | 4I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear and rescue you. |
| 5“To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? | 5"Who will you compare me or make me equal to? Who will you measure me with, so that we should be like each other? |
| 6Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! | 6Those who pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales--they hire a goldsmith and he makes it into a god. Then they kneel and bow down to it. |
| 7They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. | 7They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands; it does not budge from its place. They cry out to it but it doesn't answer; it saves no one from his trouble. |
| 8“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, | 8"Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors! |
| 9remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, | 9Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like me. |
| 10declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ | 10I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will. |
| 11calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. | 11I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for my purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it. |
| 12“Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness: | 12Listen to me, you hardhearted, far removed from justice: |
| 13I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.” | 13I am bringing my justice near; it is not far away, and my salvation will not delay. I will put salvation in Zion, my splendor in Israel. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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