The Servant’s Mission

42 “This(A) is My Servant;(B) I strengthen Him,
this is My Chosen One;(C) I delight in Him.(D)
I have put My Spirit on Him;(E)
He will bring justice[a] to the nations.(F)
He will not cry out or shout
or make His voice heard in the streets.
He will not break a bruised reed,
and He will not put out a smoldering wick;
He will faithfully bring justice.
He will not grow weak or be discouraged
until He has established justice on earth.
The islands will wait for His instruction.”(G)

This is what God, Yahweh, says—
who created the heavens and stretched them out,(H)
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,(I)
who gives breath to the people on it
and life[b] to those who walk on it(J)
“I, Yahweh, have called You
for a righteous purpose,[c](K)
and I will hold You by Your hand.(L)
I will keep You and appoint You
to be a covenant for the people(M)
and a light to the nations,(N)
in order to open blind eyes,(O)
to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,(P)
and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.
I am Yahweh, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another(Q)
or My praise to idols.
The past events have indeed happened.
Now I declare new events;(R)
I announce them to you before they occur.”

A Song of Praise

10 Sing a new song to the Lord;(S)
sing His praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea with all that fills it,(T)
you islands with your[d] inhabitants.
11 Let the desert and its cities shout,
the settlements where Kedar dwells cry aloud.(U)
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy;(V)
let them cry out from the mountaintops.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord
and declare His praise in the islands.
13 The Lord advances like a warrior;
He stirs up His zeal like a soldier.(W)
He shouts, He roars aloud,
He prevails over His enemies.

14 “I have kept silent from ages past;
I have been quiet and restrained Myself.(X)
But now, I will groan like a woman in labor,(Y)
gasping breathlessly.
15 I will lay waste mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation.
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up marshes.(Z)
16 I will lead the blind by a way they did not know;(AA)
I will guide them on paths they have not known.
I will turn darkness to light in front of them(AB)
and rough places into level ground.(AC)
This is what I will do for them,
and I will not forsake them.(AD)
17 They will be turned back and utterly ashamed—
those who trust in idols
and say to metal-plated images:
You are our gods!(AE)

Israel’s Blindness and Deafness

18 “Listen, you deaf!
Look, you blind, so that you may see.(AF)
19 Who is blind but My servant,(AG)
or deaf like My messenger I am sending?
Who is blind like My dedicated one,[e]
or blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 Though seeing many things,[f] you do not obey.
Though his ears are open, he does not listen.”(AH)

21 The Lord was pleased, because of His righteousness,
to magnify His instruction and make it glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and looted,
all of them trapped in holes
or imprisoned in dungeons.
They have become plunder(AI)
with no one to rescue them
and loot, with no one saying, “Give it back!”
23 Who among you will pay attention to this?
Let him listen and obey in the future.
24 Who gave Jacob to the robber,[g]
and Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the Lord?
Have we not sinned against Him?
They were not willing to walk in His ways,
and they would not listen to His instruction.
25 So He poured out on Jacob His furious anger
and the power of war.
It surrounded him with fire, but he did not know it;
it burned him, but he paid no attention.[h](AJ)

Restoration of Israel

43 Now this is what the Lord says—
the One who created you, Jacob,
and the One who formed you, Israel(AK)
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;(AL)
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.(AM)
I will be with you(AN)
when you pass through the waters,(AO)
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire,(AP)
and the flame will not burn you.
For I Yahweh your God,(AQ)
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior,(AR)
give Egypt as a ransom for you,
Cush and Seba in your place.
Because you are precious in My sight(AS)
and honored, and I love you,(AT)
I will give people in exchange for you
and nations instead of your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,(AU)
and gather you from the west.(AV)
I will say to the north: Give them up!
and to the south: Do not hold them back!
Bring My sons from far away,(AW)
and My daughters from the ends of the earth(AX)
everyone called by My name
and created for My glory.
I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.”

Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes,(AY)
and are deaf, yet have ears.
All the nations are gathered together,
and the peoples are assembled.(AZ)
Who among them can declare this,(BA)
and tell us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses
to vindicate themselves,
so that people may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are My witnesses”(BB)
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“and My servant whom I have chosen,(BC)
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.(BD)
No god was formed before Me,
and there will be none after Me.(BE)
11 I, I am Yahweh,
and there is no other Savior but Me.(BF)
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—
and not some foreign god[i] among you.
So you are My witnesses”—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“and[j] I am God.(BG)
13 Also, from today on I am He alone,
and none can deliver from My hand.(BH)
I act, and who can reverse it?”(BI)

God’s Deliverance of Rebellious Israel

14 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer,(BJ) the Holy One of Israel(BK) says:

Because of you, I will send to Babylon
and bring all of them as fugitives,[k]
even the Chaldeans(BL) in the ships in which they rejoice.[l]
15 I am Yahweh, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.

16 This is what the Lord says—
who makes a way in the sea,
and a path through surging waters,(BM)
17 who brings out the chariot and horse,(BN)
the army and the mighty one together
(they lie down, they do not rise again;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick(BO))—
18 “Do not remember the past events,
pay no attention to things of old.(BP)
19 Look, I am about to do something new;(BQ)
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,(BR)
rivers[m] in the desert.
20 The animals of the field will honor Me,
jackals and ostriches,
because I provide water in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,(BS)
to give drink to My chosen people.
21 The people I formed for Myself
will declare My praise.(BT)

22 “But Jacob, you have not called on Me,
because, Israel, you have become weary of Me.(BU)
23 You have not brought Me your sheep for burnt offerings
or honored Me with your sacrifices.(BV)
I have not burdened you with offerings
or wearied you with incense.[n]
24 You have not bought Me aromatic cane with silver,
or satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened Me with your sins;
you have wearied Me(BW) with your iniquities.(BX)

25 “It is I who sweep away your transgressions(BY)
for My own sake(BZ)
and remember your sins no more.(CA)
26 Take Me to court; let us argue our case together.(CB)
State your case, so that you may be vindicated.
27 Your first father sinned,(CC)
and your mediators have rebelled against Me.(CD)
28 So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary,
and set Jacob apart for destruction(CE)
and Israel for abuse.

Spiritual Blessing

44 “And now listen, Jacob My servant,
Israel whom I have chosen.(CF)
This is the word of the Lord
your Maker who formed you from the womb;
He[o] will help you:
Do not fear; Jacob is My servant;
I have chosen Jeshurun.[p](CG)
For I will pour water on the thirsty land
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit(CH) on your descendants
and My blessing on your offspring.
They will sprout among[q] the grass
like poplars by flowing streams.
This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
and name himself by the name of Israel.”

No God Other Than Yahweh

This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer,(CI) the Lord of Hosts, says:

I am the first and I am the last.(CJ)
There is no God but Me.(CK)
Who, like Me, can announce the future?
Let him say so and make a case before Me,(CL)
since I have established an ancient people.
Let these gods declare[r] the coming things,
and what will take place.
Do not be startled or afraid.
Have I not told you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!(CM)
Is there any God but Me?(CN)
There is no other Rock;(CO) I do not know any.

All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure does not profit.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.(CP)
10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image
for no profit?(CQ)
11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame,
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.

12 The ironworker labors over the coals,
shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
13 The woodworker stretches out a measuring line,
he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human likeness,(CR)
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
14 He cuts down[s] cedars for his use,
or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
15 It serves as fuel for man.
He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
16 He burns half of it in a fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
17 He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.
He bows down to it and worships;
He prays to it,(CS) “Save me, for you are my god.”
18 Such people[t] do not comprehend
and cannot understand,
for He has shut their eyes[u] so they cannot see,
and their minds so they cannot understand.
19 No one reflects,
no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
I will make something detestable(CT) with the rest of it,
and I will bow down to a block of wood.”
20 He feeds on[v] ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”(CU)

21 Remember these things, Jacob,
and Israel, for you are My servant;
I formed you, you are My servant;
Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me.[w](CV)
22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,(CW)
and your sins like a mist.
Return to Me,(CX)
for I have redeemed you.(CY)
23 Rejoice, heavens,(CZ) for the Lord has acted;
shout, depths of the earth.
Break out into singing, mountains,
forest, and every tree in it.
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
and glorifies Himself through Israel.(DA)

Restoration of Israel through Cyrus

24 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer(DB) who formed you from the womb,(DC) says:

I am Yahweh, who made everything;
who stretched out the heavens by Myself;(DD)
who alone spread out the earth;
25 who destroys the omens of the false prophets
and makes fools of diviners;
who confounds the wise
and makes their knowledge foolishness;(DE)
26 who confirms the message of His servant
and fulfills the counsel of His messengers;
who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,”
and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,”
and I will restore her ruins;
27 who says to the depths of the sea, “Be dry,”
and I will dry up your rivers;
28 who says to Cyrus,(DF) “My shepherd,
he will fulfill all My pleasure”(DG)
and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,”(DH)
and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 42:1 DSS read His justice
  2. Isaiah 42:5 Lit spirit
  3. Isaiah 42:6 Or you by [My] righteousness; lit you in righteousness
  4. Isaiah 42:10 Lit their
  5. Isaiah 42:19 Hb obscure
  6. Isaiah 42:20 Alt Hb tradition reads You see many things;
  7. Isaiah 42:24 Lit to loot
  8. Isaiah 42:25 Lit he did not put on heart
  9. Isaiah 43:12 Lit not a foreigner
  10. Isaiah 43:12 Or that
  11. Isaiah 43:14 Or will break down all their bars
  12. Isaiah 43:14 Hb obscure
  13. Isaiah 43:19 DSS read paths
  14. Isaiah 43:23 With demands for offerings and incense
  15. Isaiah 44:2 Lit from the womb, and He
  16. Isaiah 44:2 = Upright One, referring to Israel
  17. Isaiah 44:4 Some Hb mss, DSS, LXX read as among
  18. Isaiah 44:7 Lit declare them
  19. Isaiah 44:14 Lit To cut down for himself
  20. Isaiah 44:18 Lit They
  21. Isaiah 44:18 Or for their eyes are shut
  22. Isaiah 44:20 Or He shepherds
  23. Isaiah 44:21 DSS, LXX, Tg read Israel, do not forget Me

The Servant of the Lord

42 “Here is my servant,(A) whom I uphold,
    my chosen one(B) in whom I delight;(C)
I will put my Spirit(D) on him,
    and he will bring justice(E) to the nations.(F)
He will not shout or cry out,(G)
    or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed(H) he will not break,(I)
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.(J)
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;(K)
    he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice(L) on earth.
    In his teaching(M) the islands(N) will put their hope.”(O)

This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,(P) who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth(Q) with all that springs from it,(R)
    who gives breath(S) to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called(T) you in righteousness;(U)
    I will take hold of your hand.(V)
I will keep(W) you and will make you
    to be a covenant(X) for the people
    and a light(Y) for the Gentiles,(Z)
to open eyes that are blind,(AA)
    to free(AB) captives from prison(AC)
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.(AD)

“I am the Lord;(AE) that is my name!(AF)
    I will not yield my glory to another(AG)
    or my praise to idols.(AH)
See, the former things(AI) have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce(AJ) them to you.”

Song of Praise to the Lord

10 Sing(AK) to the Lord a new song,(AL)
    his praise(AM) from the ends of the earth,(AN)
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,(AO)
    you islands,(AP) and all who live in them.
11 Let the wilderness(AQ) and its towns raise their voices;
    let the settlements where Kedar(AR) lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela(AS) sing for joy;
    let them shout from the mountaintops.(AT)
12 Let them give glory(AU) to the Lord
    and proclaim his praise(AV) in the islands.(AW)
13 The Lord will march out like a champion,(AX)
    like a warrior(AY) he will stir up his zeal;(AZ)
with a shout(BA) he will raise the battle cry
    and will triumph over his enemies.(BB)

14 “For a long time I have kept silent,(BC)
    I have been quiet and held myself back.(BD)
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
    I cry out, I gasp and pant.(BE)
15 I will lay waste(BF) the mountains(BG) and hills
    and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
    and dry up(BH) the pools.
16 I will lead(BI) the blind(BJ) by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light(BK) before them
    and make the rough places smooth.(BL)
These are the things I will do;
    I will not forsake(BM) them.
17 But those who trust in idols,
    who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’(BN)
    will be turned back in utter shame.(BO)

Israel Blind and Deaf

18 “Hear, you deaf;(BP)
    look, you blind, and see!
19 Who is blind(BQ) but my servant,(BR)
    and deaf like the messenger(BS) I send?
Who is blind like the one in covenant(BT) with me,
    blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention;
    your ears are open, but you do not listen.”(BU)
21 It pleased the Lord
    for the sake(BV) of his righteousness
    to make his law(BW) great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered(BX) and looted,
    all of them trapped in pits(BY)
    or hidden away in prisons.(BZ)
They have become plunder,
    with no one to rescue them;(CA)
they have been made loot,
    with no one to say, “Send them back.”

23 Which of you will listen to this
    or pay close attention(CB) in time to come?
24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,
    and Israel to the plunderers?(CC)
Was it not the Lord,(CD)
    against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow(CE) his ways;
    they did not obey his law.(CF)
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,(CG)
    the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames,(CH) yet they did not understand;(CI)
    it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.(CJ)

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created(CK) you, Jacob,
    he who formed(CL) you, Israel:(CM)
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed(CN) you;
    I have summoned you by name;(CO) you are mine.(CP)
When you pass through the waters,(CQ)
    I will be with you;(CR)
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,(CS)
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.(CT)
For I am the Lord your God,(CU)
    the Holy One(CV) of Israel, your Savior;(CW)
I give Egypt(CX) for your ransom,
    Cush[a](CY) and Seba(CZ) in your stead.(DA)
Since you are precious and honored(DB) in my sight,
    and because I love(DC) you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid,(DD) for I am with you;(DE)
    I will bring your children(DF) from the east
    and gather(DG) you from the west.(DH)
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south,(DI) ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters(DJ) from the ends of the earth(DK)
everyone who is called by my name,(DL)
    whom I created(DM) for my glory,(DN)
    whom I formed and made.(DO)

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,(DP)
    who have ears but are deaf.(DQ)
All the nations gather together(DR)
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold(DS) this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are my witnesses,(DT)” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant(DU) whom I have chosen,
so that you may know(DV) and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god(DW) was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.(DX)
11 I, even I, am the Lord,(DY)
    and apart from me there is no savior.(DZ)
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god(EA) among you.
You are my witnesses,(EB)” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13     Yes, and from ancient days(EC) I am he.(ED)
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”(EE)

God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

14 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(EF) the Holy One(EG) of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and bring down as fugitives(EH) all the Babylonians,[b](EI)
    in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord,(EJ) your Holy One,
    Israel’s Creator,(EK) your King.(EL)

16 This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,(EM)
17 who drew out(EN) the chariots and horses,(EO)
    the army and reinforcements together,(EP)
and they lay(EQ) there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:(ER)
18 “Forget the former things;(ES)
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!(ET)
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness(EU)
    and streams in the wasteland.(EV)
20 The wild animals(EW) honor me,
    the jackals(EX) and the owls,
because I provide water(EY) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people I formed(EZ) for myself(FA)
    that they may proclaim my praise.(FB)

22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied(FC) yourselves for[c] me, Israel.(FD)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,(FE)
    nor honored(FF) me with your sacrifices.(FG)
I have not burdened(FH) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands(FI) for incense.(FJ)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus(FK) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat(FL) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied(FM) me with your offenses.(FN)

25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,(FO) for my own sake,(FP)
    and remembers your sins(FQ) no more.(FR)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;(FS)
    state the case(FT) for your innocence.
27 Your first father(FU) sinned;
    those I sent to teach(FV) you rebelled(FW) against me.
28 So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction[d](FX)
    and Israel to scorn.(FY)

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,(FZ)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.(GA)
This is what the Lord says—
    he who made(GB) you, who formed you in the womb,(GC)
    and who will help(GD) you:
Do not be afraid,(GE) Jacob, my servant,(GF)
    Jeshurun,[e](GG) whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water(GH) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;(GI)
I will pour out my Spirit(GJ) on your offspring,
    and my blessing(GK) on your descendants.(GL)
They will spring up like grass(GM) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees(GN) by flowing streams.(GO)
Some will say, ‘I belong(GP) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,(GQ) ‘The Lord’s,’(GR)
    and will take the name Israel.

The Lord, Not Idols

“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King(GS) and Redeemer,(GT) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;(GU)
    apart from me there is no God.(GV)
Who then is like me?(GW) Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
    and what is yet to come—
    yes, let them foretell(GX) what will come.
Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim(GY) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God(GZ) besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock;(HA) I know not one.”

All who make idols(HB) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.(HC)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;(HD)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.(HE)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,(HF)
    which can profit nothing?(HG)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;(HH)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.(HI)

12 The blacksmith(HJ) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.(HK)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.(HL)
13 The carpenter(HM) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,(HN)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.(HO)
14 He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,(HP) and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel(HQ) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships(HR) it;
    he makes an idol and bows(HS) down to it.
16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.(HT)
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.(HU)
He prays(HV) to it and says,
    “Save(HW) me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand(HX) nothing;
    their eyes(HY) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding(HZ) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(IA)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(IB) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(IC)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(ID) a deluded(IE) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(IF)

21 “Remember(IG) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.(IH)
I have made you, you are my servant;(II)
    Israel, I will not forget you.(IJ)
22 I have swept away(IK) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return(IL) to me,
    for I have redeemed(IM) you.”

23 Sing for joy,(IN) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth(IO) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,(IP)
    you forests and all your trees,(IQ)
for the Lord has redeemed(IR) Jacob,
    he displays his glory(IS) in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

24 “This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(IT) who formed(IU) you in the womb:(IV)

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,(IW)
    who spreads out the earth(IX) by myself,
25 who foils(IY) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,(IZ)
who overthrows the learning of the wise(JA)
    and turns it into nonsense,(JB)
26 who carries out the words(JC) of his servants
    and fulfills(JD) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,(JE) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,(JF) ‘I will restore them,’(JG)
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up(JH) your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus,(JI) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,(JJ) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,(JK) “Let its foundations(JL) be laid.”’

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:3 That is, the upper Nile region
  2. Isaiah 43:14 Or Chaldeans
  3. Isaiah 43:22 Or Jacob; / surely you have grown weary of
  4. Isaiah 43:28 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  5. Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.

Preparation for the Bowl Judgments

15 Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign[a] in heaven:(A) seven angels with the seven last plagues, for with them, God’s wrath will be completed.(B) I also saw something like a sea of glass(C) mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, his image,[b] and the number of his name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God.[c](D) They sang the song of God’s servant Moses(E) and the song of the Lamb:

Great and awe-inspiring are Your works,
Lord God, the Almighty;
righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the Nations.[d]
Lord, who will not fear
and glorify Your name?
Because You alone are holy,
for all the nations will come
and worship before You
because Your righteous acts
have been revealed.

After this I looked, and the heavenly sanctuary—the tabernacle of testimony(F)—was opened.(G) Out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in clean, bright linen, with gold sashes wrapped around their chests. One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven gold bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. Then the sanctuary was filled with smoke from God’s glory and from His power,(H) and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 15:1 Or and awesome symbolic display
  2. Revelation 15:2 Other mss add his mark
  3. Revelation 15:2 Or harps of God; = harps belonging to the service of God
  4. Revelation 15:3 Other mss read ages

Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

15 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign:(A) seven angels(B) with the seven last plagues(C)—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass(D) glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious(E) over the beast(F) and its image(G) and over the number of its name.(H) They held harps(I) given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant(J) Moses(K) and of the Lamb:(L)

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,(M)
    Lord God Almighty.(N)
Just and true are your ways,(O)
    King of the nations.[a]
Who will not fear you, Lord,(P)
    and bring glory to your name?(Q)
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,(R)
for your righteous acts(S) have been revealed.”[b]

After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple(T)—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law(U)—and it was opened.(V) Out of the temple(W) came the seven angels with the seven plagues.(X) They were dressed in clean, shining linen(Y) and wore golden sashes around their chests.(Z) Then one of the four living creatures(AA) gave to the seven angels(AB) seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.(AC) And the temple was filled with smoke(AD) from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple(AE) until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Footnotes

  1. Revelation 15:3 Some manuscripts ages
  2. Revelation 15:4 Phrases in this song are drawn from Psalm 111:2,3; Deut. 32:4; Jer. 10:7; Psalms 86:9; 98:2.