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.
Babiloni jalaŋolu te maakoyiri ke noo la
1 Beli niŋ Nebo, Babiloni jalaŋolu jimita le,
ì maluriŋo boyita.
Ì tarata laariŋ beeyaŋolu le kaŋ, ka ì samba.
A keta ì ye duni baa le ti meŋ ye ì batandi.
2 Jalaŋolu jimita le,
ì yuukuta ñoo la,
ì maŋ ì faŋolu tankandi noo,
ì ye ì samba mutoo kono.
3 Yaawe* ko:
“Yaakuba koomalankoolu ali i lamoyi n na,
alitolu moo toomaalu mennu tuta Banisirayila,
ŋa n hakilitu ali to le,
biriŋ ali be konoo kono,
n ka ali topatoo,
biriŋ ali wuluuta.
4 Hani ali kotoota,
nte be tara la n ñaama le,
ali tiyolu si koyi ñaa-wo-ñaa,
m be ali topatoo la le.
Nte le ye ali daa,
m be ali bambu la le,
m be ali maakoyi la le,
m be ali tanka la le.
5 “N niŋ jumaa le mulunta ali fee,
waraŋ ka kaañaŋ?
Ali si n niŋ wo laa,
ali si a fo ko, n niŋ a mulunta le.
6 “Doolu ka sanoo landatambi bondi ì la kufoolu kono le,
ì ka kodiforoo juruma peesarilaŋo kaŋ.
Ì ka tunkannaa le luwaasi,
ka a tunkaŋ ì ye jalaŋo ti,
ì ka sujudi a ye ka a batu.
7 Ì ka a landi ì dabakunkuŋolu le kaŋ,
ì ye a samba a taradulaa to, a ye tara looriŋ jee,
a te bo noo la a noo to.
Ì si duwaa daani a yaa, bari a buka ì danku,
a te ì bondi noo la ì la bataalu kono.
8 “Alitolu balannaalu, ali si ali hakilitu ñiŋ to,
ali kali a miira, a ye tara ali sondomoo kono.
9 Ali si i miira folooto kuwolu la,
aniŋ mennu tambita kabiriŋ.
“Nte le mu Alla ti,
aduŋ doo te jee.
Nte le mu Alla ti,
aduŋ n niŋ feŋ ne buka muluŋ.
10 “Kuwolu koolaa be ke la meŋ ti, ŋa a fo ali ye le kabiriŋ.
Koomanto ŋa a fo ali ye le, meŋ be naa ke la.
N ko, n na feeroolu te tiñaa la,
n lafita feŋ-wo-feŋ na, m be wo le ke la.
11 Ŋa kewo kumandi le ka bo banku jamfariŋo to, tilibo karoo la,
ka n na dookuwo taamandi.
A be jii la naŋ ne ko seeliŋo.
Ŋa meŋ fo, m be wo le ke la,
ŋa meŋ feere, m be wo le taamandi la.
12 Ali i lamoyi n na, alitolu jusu jaaroolu,
tiliŋo be jamfariŋ alitolu mennu la.
13 M pareeta le ka n na tankoo sutiyandi naŋ, a maŋ jamfa,
aduŋ n na kiisoo te mee la a be naa.
M be Siyoninkoolu* kiisa la le,
ŋa n na kallankeeyaa* dii Banisirayilankoolu la.”
