1 Bel was the name of a Babylonian god. The name was originally associated with Enlil, but later was applied to Marduk. See בֵּל.
2 Nebo is a variation of the name of the Babylonian god Nabu.
3 Heb “their images belong to animals and beasts”; “their idols are borne by beasts of burden”; “are being hauled away.”
4 Heb “your loads are carried [as] a burden by a weary [animal].”
5 Heb “[the] burden,” i.e., their images, the heavy burden carried by the animals.
6 נַפְשָׁם (nafsham, “their souls/lives”) is equivalent here to a third masculine plural suffix, but the third feminine singular verb הָלָכָה (halakhah, “they go”) agrees with the feminine noun נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “soul, life”).
7 The downfall of Babylon is depicted here. The idols are carried off by the victorious enemy; the gods are likened to defeated captives who cower before the enemy and are taken into exile.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;

their idols are on beasts and livestock;

these things you carry are borne

as burdens on weary beasts.

They stoop; they bow down together;

they cannot save the burden,

but themselves go into captivity.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low;

their idols are borne by beasts of burden.

The images that are carried about are burdensome,

a burden for the weary.

They stoop and bow down together;

unable to rescue the burden,

they themselves go off into captivity.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Bel crouches; Nebo cowers.

Idols depicting them are consigned to beasts and cattle.

The images you carry are loaded,

as a burden for the weary animal.

The gods cower; they crouch together;

they are not able to rescue the burden,

but they themselves go into captivity.

NLTNew Living Translation

Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon,

bow as they are lowered to the ground.

They are being hauled away on ox carts.

The poor beasts stagger under the weight.

Both the idols and their owners are bowed down.

The gods cannot protect the people,

and the people cannot protect the gods.

They go off into captivity together.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Bel bows down;

Nebo is stooping.

Their idols are on animals and on cattle;

your cargo is carried as a burden on weary animals.

They stoop;

they bow down together.

They are not able to save the burden,

but they themselves go in captivity.

KJV 1900King James Version

Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth,

Their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle:

Your carriages were heavy loaden;

They are a burden to the weary beast.

They stoop, they bow down together;

They could not deliver the burden,

But themselves are gone into captivity.

Public Domain