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1. Bel has fallen to the ground. Nebo is kneeling before me. The Lord says, "Men put those idols on the backs of animals. They are only heavy burdens that must be carried. They do nothing but make people tired.
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1. Bel H1078 boweth down H3766 , Nebo H5015 stoopeth H7164 , their idols H6091 were H1961 upon the beasts H2416 , and upon the cattle H929 : your carriages H5385 were heavy laden H6006 ; they are a burden H4853 to the weary H5889 beast .
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2. But they all bowed down and fell to the ground. They couldn't escape; they were all carried away like prisoners.
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2. They stoop H7164 , they bow down H3766 together H3162 ; they could H3201 not H3808 deliver H4422 the burden H4853 , but themselves H5315 are gone H1980 into captivity H7628 .
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3. "Family of Jacob, listen to me! You who are left from the family of Israel, listen! I have carried you since you left your mother's womb. I carried you when you were born,
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3. Hearken H8085 unto H413 me , O house H1004 of Jacob H3290 , and all H3605 the remnant H7611 of the house H1004 of Israel H3478 , which are borne H6006 by me from H4480 the belly H990 , which are carried H5375 from H4480 the womb H7356 :
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4. and I will still be carrying you when you are old. Your hair will turn gray, and I will still carry you. I made you, and I will carry you to safety.
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4. And even to H5704 your old age H2209 I H589 am he H1931 ; and even to H5704 hoar hairs H7872 will I H589 carry H5445 you : I H589 have made H6213 , and I H589 will bear H5375 ; even I H589 will carry H5445 , and will deliver H4422 you .
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5. "Can you compare me to anyone? No one is equal to me. You cannot understand everything about me. There is nothing like me.
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5. To whom H4310 will ye liken H1819 me , and make me equal H7737 , and compare H4911 me , that we may be like H1819 ?
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6. Some people are rich with gold and silver. Gold falls from their purses, and they weigh their silver on scales. They pay an artist to make a false god from wood. Then they bow down and worship that false god.
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6. They lavish H2107 gold H2091 out of the bag H4480 H3599 , and weigh H8254 silver H3701 in the balance H7070 , and hire H7936 a goldsmith H6884 ; and he maketh H6213 it a god H410 : they fall down H5456 , yea H637 , they worship H7812 .
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7. They put their false god on their shoulders and carry it. That false god is useless; people have to carry it! People set the statue on the ground, and it cannot move. That false god never walks away from its place. People can yell at it, but it will not answer. That false god is only a statue; it cannot save people from their troubles.
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7. They bear H5375 him upon H5921 the shoulder H3802 , they carry H5445 him , and set H5117 him in his place H8478 , and he standeth H5975 ; from his place H4480 H4725 shall he not H3808 remove H4185 : yea H637 , one shall cry H6817 unto H413 him , yet can he not H3808 answer H6030 , nor H3808 save H3467 him out of his trouble H4480 H6869 .
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8. "Sinners, change your heart and mind. Think about this again. Remember it and be strong.
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8. Remember H2142 this H2063 , and show yourselves men H377 : bring it again H7725 to H5921 mind H3820 , O ye transgressors H6586 .
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9. Remember what happened long ago. Remember, I am God, and there is no other God. There is no other like me.
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9. Remember H2142 the former things H7223 of old H4480 H5769 : for H3588 I H595 am God H410 , and there is none H369 else H5750 ; I am God H430 , and there is none H657 like me H3644 ,
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10. "In the beginning, I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago, I told you things that have not happened yet. When I plan something, it happens. I do whatever I want to do.
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10. Declaring H5046 the end H319 from the beginning H4480 H7225 , and from ancient times H4480 H6924 the things that H834 are not H3808 yet done H6213 , saying H559 , My counsel H6098 shall stand H6965 , and I will do H6213 all H3605 my pleasure H2656 :
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11. I am calling a man from the east to do what I want. He will come like an eagle from a faraway country. He will do all that I have planned. Everything I said will happen just as I said it would.
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11. Calling H7121 a ravenous bird H5861 from the east H4480 H4217 , the man H376 that executeth my counsel H6098 from a far H4801 country H4480 H776 : yea H637 , I have spoken H1696 it , I will also H637 bring it to pass H935 ; I have purposed H3335 it , I will also H637 do H6213 it.
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12. "Listen to me, you stubborn people! You are far from doing what is right.
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12. Hearken H8085 unto H413 me , ye stouthearted H47 H3820 , that are far H7350 from righteousness H4480 H6666 :
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13. But I am close to making things right. Salvation will not be delayed much longer. I will bring salvation to Zion and to my wonderful Israel."
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13. I bring near H7126 my righteousness H6666 ; it shall not H3808 be far off H7368 , and my salvation H8668 shall not H3808 tarry H309 : and I will place H5414 salvation H8668 in Zion H6726 for Israel H3478 my glory H8597 .
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