Commentary on Isaiah Volume 2 John Calvin (continued)
JOHN CALVIN
cent aurifabrum, ut ex eo faciant Deum, cui se incurvent, et quem adorent.
7. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
7. Portabunt super humerum, deferent, ponent in loco suo; illic stabit, loco suo non movebitur. Adhaec, si quis clamet ad eum, non respondebit, neque ex tribulatione ejus liberabit eum.
8. Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
8. Recordamini hoc, et erubescite (vel, roboramini;) redite, praevaricatores ad cor.
9. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;
9. Recordamini priora a seculo; quia ego Deus, et nullus praeterea Deus, et nihil mihi simile.
10. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
10. Nuntians ab initio novissimum, et a vetustate quae nondum facta erant; dicens, Consilium meum stabit, et quicquid voluero faciam.
11. Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
11. Vocans ab Oriente avem (vel, cogitationem,) e terra longinqua virum consilii mei. Loquutus sum, ideo adducam hoc; cogitavi, idem faciam.
12. Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 12. Audite me praefracti corde, qui procul estis a justitia. 13. I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
13. Appropinquare faciam justitiam meam, nec elongabitur, et salus mea non morabitur. Et ponam in Sion salutem, et in Ierusalem gloriam meam.
1. Bel hath bowed down. Isaiah continues the same subject; for we need not trouble ourselves about the division of chapters, which have not always been accurately divided; but we ought to examine the statements themselves, which agree with each other in the manner which I have pointed out. Yet if any prefer to view this as the commencement of a new discourse, because immediately afterwards he prophesies concerning the destruction of Babylon, I shall not greatly quarrel with him.
Nebo is cast down. "Bel" and "Nebo" were idols which were worshipped by the Babylonians, and probably were their chief patrons; as idolaters always have some particular gods, under whose protection, above all others, they consider themselves to be placed. It may be conjectured that this "Nebo" was a sort of inferior god that was added to the chief god "Bel," as Mercury