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.
1 “Inga onge ri omayandero woomukuru va Babilon.
Bel na Nebo rutenga aave rikotamenwa,
nungwari nambano owo ve kutirwa kousino,
ave rire omutwaro komatambo
wovinamuinyo mbya urwa.
2 Oomukuru vovisenginina kave
sora okuriyama oveni,
owo va kamburwa nave twarewa mouhuura.
Inga onge ri omaandero woomukuru va Babilon!
3 “Purateneye ku ami, zondekurona za Jakob,
amuhe votjiwaṋa tjandje mbu mwa hupa po.
Ami mbe mu ṱakamisa okuza kongwatero yeṋu.
4 Owami Ndjambi weṋu, nu me mutjevere
ngandu tji mwa kurupa nu tji mwa hara ozonḓi.
Ami mbe mu mema nu me mu vereke;
me mu vatere nu me mu yama.”
5 Muhona ma tja nai:
“Mamu ndji sasaneke na uṋe?
Pena umwe ngu ri otja ami are?
6 Ovandu ve paturura ozondjaṱu zawo
zovimariva nave tirire ongoldo;
ve saneka osilveri kovisanekero,
nu ve kuta omuhambure wongoldo
kutja e ve hamburire omukuru wotjisenginina;
arire tji ve ripete nave rikotamene ku ye!
7 Owo ve mu toora koviṱuve vyawo,
ave mu tjindi nave mu twa
poruveze rwe kutja a kurame mbo,
na ha sora okunyinganyinga okuza po mbo.
Omundu tji ma kumbu ku ye,
eye ke nokuzira nu ke
nokumuyama kotjiwonga.
8 “Zemburukeye otjiṋa hi, oweṋe vanauvi;
ripureye na ihi tji mba tjita!
9 Zemburukeye imbi mbya tjitirwe rukuru;
ripureye kutja owami erike,
ngu mbi ri Ndjambi,
nokutja kape na warwe ngu ri otja ami.
10 Okuza kombutiro ami mba
tjivisire oruveze ndu maru ya.
Okuza korukuru ami mba
zuvarisira imbi mbi mavi katjitwa.
Ami mba tja omeripuriro wandje kamaaye tataiza ko,
nokutja ami me yenenisa ngamwa
atjihe tji mba vanga okutjita.
11 Ami me isana omurumendu okuza komuhuka;
eye ma wirire otja orukoze,
nu ma yenenisa imbi ami mbi mba tya.
Ami mba hungire, nu otjinga amape tjitwa.
12 “Purateneye ku ami, vandu ovirangaranga,
mbu mu tjangovasi ondoṋeno i ri kokure.
13 Ami me eta eyuva rondoṋeno kutja ri ye popezu,
oro kari ri kokure.
Outoṋi wandje kau nokuwombisiwa.
Ami me yama Jerusalem,
nu me eta ondjozokiro ku Israel.”
