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.
Okutekapo kwaBabilon
1 Ndika olyo ehulilo lyiimenka yaBabilon.
Bel naNebo oya li ya simanekwa nale,
ihe ngashingeyi otayi tsilikwa kuusino,
yi ninge omitsalo koombunda dhiinamwenyo ya loloka.
2 Iimenka itayi vulu okwiihupitha yo yene;
otayi kwatwa po notayi yiwa nayo.
Ndika olyo ehulilo lyiimenka yaBabilon.
3 “Pulakenii ndje, ne oluvalo lwaJakob,
amuhe mboka mwa hupu ko yomoshigwana shaIsrael.
Onde mu dhiginine okuza kevalo lyeni.
4 Ongame Kalunga keni notandi mu gamene,
sigo tamu kulupa mu ninge oomvi.
Onde mu shiti notandi mu gamene;
otandi mu kwatha notandi mu hupitha.
5 “Otamu yeleke ndje nalye?
Oku na tuu ngoka a fa ndje?
6 Aantu taa dhitula oompunda dhawo e taa pimpi mo oshingoli;
otaa vihi oshisiliveli moshiviha.
Otaa futu omuhambuli gwoshingoli, a hambule oshimenka;
otaye shi inyongamene e taye shi simaneke!
7 Oyo taye shi itsike komapepe gawo e taye shi humbata;
otaye shi thikameke, sho itaashi vulu okwiinyenga.
Ngele ku na ngoka te shi galikana,
itashi vulu okuyamukula nenge shi mu hupithe muudhigu.
Omuwa oye mwene gwonakuyiwa
8 “Ne aalunde, dhimbulukweni shika;
shi konakoneni moomwenyo dheni, ne aanandumbo.
9 Dhimbulukweni shoka sha ningilwe konale ndjo;
shi konakoneni kutya ongame awike Kalunga,
nokaku na we gulwe e thike pungame.
10 Okuza kontsapo onda hunganeke mbyoka tayi ya;
onalenale nda popi mbyoka tayi ka ningwa.
Onda tile, omadhiladhilo gandje itaga ka gwila pevi,
notii ka gwanitha ashihe nda hala oku shi ninga.
11 Otandi ithana omuntu e ye ta zi kuuzilo;
ota ka koloka ko a fa okakodhi
e ta gwanitha shoka nda dhiladhila.
Onda popi, notashi ka gwanithwa.
12 Pulakenii ndje, ne aatangalali,
one tuu mboka mwa kala kokule nuuyuuki.
13 Otandi eta esiku lyuuyuuki popepi,
kali li we kokule.
Ehupitho lyandje itali kankama we.
Otandi hupitha Sion
nokweetela Israel esimano.
