Isaiah 44
New American Standard Bible
The Blessings of Israel
44 “But now listen, Jacob, My (A)servant,
And Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 This is what the Lord says, He who made you
And (B)formed you from the womb, who (C)will help you:
‘(D)Do not fear, Jacob My servant,
And [a](E)Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For (F)I will pour water on [b]the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will (G)pour out My Spirit on your (H)offspring,
And My blessing on your descendants;
4 And they will spring up [c]among the grass
Like (I)poplars by streams of water.’
5 This one will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
And that one [d]will call on the name of Jacob;
And another will (J)write [e]on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’
And will give himself Israel’s name with honor.
6 “This is what the Lord says, He who is the (K)King of Israel and his (L)Redeemer, the Lord of armies:
‘I am the (M)first and I am the last,
And there is no God (N)besides Me.
7 Who is like Me? (O)Let him proclaim and declare it;
And, let him confront Me
[f]Beginning with My establishing of the ancient [g]nation.
Then let them declare to them the things that are coming
And the events that are going to take place.
8 Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
(P)Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
And (Q)you are My witnesses.
Is there any God (R)besides Me,
Or is there any other (S)Rock?
I know of none.’”
The Foolishness of Idolatry
9 Those who fashion an idol are all futile, and their treasured things are of no benefit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be (T)put to shame. 10 Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to (U)no benefit? 11 Behold, all his companions will be (V)put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them tremble, let them be put to shame together.
12 The (W)craftsman of iron shapes a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, [h]fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. He also gets hungry and [i]his strength fails; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 13 (X)The craftsman of wood extends a measuring line; he outlines it with a marker. He works it with carving knives and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of (Y)mankind, so that it may sit in a (Z)house. 14 He will cut cedars for himself, and he takes a holm-oak or another oak and lets it grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow. 15 Then it becomes something for a person to burn, so he takes one of them and gets warm; he also makes a fire and bakes bread. He also (AA)makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image and (AB)bows down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat, he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” 17 Yet the rest of it he (AC)makes into a god, his carved image. He bows down before it and worships; he also (AD)prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”
18 They do not (AE)know, nor do they understand, for He has (AF)smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. 19 No one [j]remembers, nor is there (AG)knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then [k]I make the rest of it into an (AH)abomination, [l]I bow down before a block of wood!” 20 He [m](AI)feeds on ashes; a (AJ)deceived heart has misled him. And he cannot save [n]himself, nor say, “(AK)Is there not a lie in my right hand?”
God Forgives and Redeems
21 “(AL)Remember these things, Jacob,
And Israel, for you are (AM)My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant,
Israel, you will (AN)not be forgotten by Me.
22 I have (AO)wiped out your wrongdoings like a thick cloud
And your sins like a [o]heavy mist.
(AP)Return to Me, for I have (AQ)redeemed you.”
23 (AR)Shout for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done it!
Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth;
(AS)Break into a shout of jubilation, you mountains,
Forest, and every tree in it;
For (AT)the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And in Israel He (AU)shows His glory.
24 This is what the Lord says, He who is your (AV)Redeemer, and the one who (AW)formed you from the womb:
“I, the Lord, am the maker of all things,
(AX)Stretching out the heavens by Myself
And spreading out the earth [p]alone,
25 (AY)Causing the [q]omens of diviners to fail,
[r]Making fools of fortune-tellers;
(AZ)Causing wise men to turn back
And [s]making their knowledge ridiculous,
26 (BA)Confirming the word of His servant
And [t]carrying out the purpose of His messengers.
It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’
And of the (BB)cities of Judah, ‘(BC)They shall be built.’
And I will raise her ruins again.
27 I am the One who says to the depth of the sea, ‘Dry up!’
And I will make your rivers (BD)dry up.
28 It is I who says of (BE)Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
And he will carry out all My desire.’
And [u]he says of Jerusalem, ‘(BF)She will be built,’
And of the temple, ‘[v]Your foundation will be laid.’”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 44:2 I.e., Israel
- Isaiah 44:3 Or him who is thirsty
- Isaiah 44:4 Another reading is like grass among the waters
- Isaiah 44:5 Another reading is will be called by the name of Jacob
- Isaiah 44:5 Or with
- Isaiah 44:7 Lit From My establishing of
- Isaiah 44:7 Or people
- Isaiah 44:12 Lit and fashions
- Isaiah 44:12 Lit there is no strength
- Isaiah 44:19 Lit returns to his heart
- Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I make?
- Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I bow...?
- Isaiah 44:20 Or is a companion of ashes
- Isaiah 44:20 Lit his soul
- Isaiah 44:22 Or cloud
- Isaiah 44:24 Or who was with Me?
- Isaiah 44:25 Lit signs
- Isaiah 44:25 Lit He makes
- Isaiah 44:25 Lit He turns
- Isaiah 44:26 Lit He performs
- Isaiah 44:28 Lit to say
- Isaiah 44:28 Lit You will be founded
Isaiah 44
New Living Translation
44 “But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant,
Israel my chosen one.
2 The Lord who made you and helps you says:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,
O dear Israel,[a] my chosen one.
3 For I will pour out water to quench your thirst
and to irrigate your parched fields.
And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants,
and my blessing on your children.
4 They will thrive like watered grass,
like willows on a riverbank.
5 Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord.’
Others will say, ‘I am a descendant of Jacob.’
Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands
and will take the name of Israel as their own.”
The Foolishness of Idols
6 This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:
“I am the First and the Last;
there is no other God.
7 Who is like me?
Let him step forward and prove to you his power.
Let him do as I have done since ancient times
when I established a people and explained its future.
8 Do not tremble; do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?
You are my witnesses—is there any other God?
No! There is no other Rock—not one!”
9 How foolish are those who manufacture idols.
These prized objects are really worthless.
The people who worship idols don’t know this,
so they are all put to shame.
10 Who but a fool would make his own god—
an idol that cannot help him one bit?
11 All who worship idols will be disgraced
along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—
who claim they can make a god.
They may all stand together,
but they will stand in terror and shame.
12 The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool,
pounding and shaping it with all his might.
His work makes him hungry and weak.
It makes him thirsty and faint.
13 Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood
and draws a pattern on it.
He works with chisel and plane
and carves it into a human figure.
He gives it human beauty
and puts it in a little shrine.
14 He cuts down cedars;
he selects the cypress and the oak;
he plants the pine in the forest
to be nourished by the rain.
15 Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire.
With it he warms himself and bakes his bread.
Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it
and makes himself a god to worship!
He makes an idol
and bows down in front of it!
16 He burns part of the tree to roast his meat
and to keep himself warm.
He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.”
17 Then he takes what’s left
and makes his god: a carved idol!
He falls down in front of it,
worshiping and praying to it.
“Rescue me!” he says.
“You are my god!”
18 Such stupidity and ignorance!
Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see.
Their minds are shut, and they cannot think.
19 The person who made the idol never stops to reflect,
“Why, it’s just a block of wood!
I burned half of it for heat
and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat.
How can the rest of it be a god?
Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”
20 The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes.
He trusts something that can’t help him at all.
Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,
“Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”
Restoration for Jerusalem
21 “Pay attention, O Jacob,
for you are my servant, O Israel.
I, the Lord, made you,
and I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your sins like a cloud.
I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.
Oh, return to me,
for I have paid the price to set you free.”
23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing.
Shout for joy, O depths of the earth!
Break into song,
O mountains and forests and every tree!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob
and is glorified in Israel.
24 This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer and Creator:
“I am the Lord, who made all things.
I alone stretched out the heavens.
Who was with me
when I made the earth?
25 I expose the false prophets as liars
and make fools of fortune-tellers.
I cause the wise to give bad advice,
thus proving them to be fools.
26 But I carry out the predictions of my prophets!
By them I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live here again,’
and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt;
I will restore all your ruins!’
27 When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’
they will be dry.
28 When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’
he will certainly do as I say.
He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’;
he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’”
Footnotes
- 44:2 Hebrew Jeshurun, a term of endearment for Israel.
Isaiah 44
The Voice
44 Eternal One: Nevertheless, listen to Me, My people:
Jacob, My servant; Israel, My chosen.
2 The Eternal who made you,
who formed you in the womb and promised to help you, has this to say:
Eternal One: Don’t be afraid, My servant Jacob,
My dear Jeshurun—My chosen.
3 Like a devoted gardener, I will pour sweet water on parched land,
streams on hard-packed ground;
I will pour My spirit on your children and grandchildren—
and let My blessing flow to your descendants.
4 And they will sprout among the grasses, grow vibrant and tall
like the willow trees lining a riverbank.
5 One will call out: “I belong to the Eternal.”
Another will say, “Jacob is my people; Israel my honored name.”
Yet others will write “Property of the Eternal” on their hands.
6 The Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies,
King of Israel, who paid their ransom, has this to say:
Eternal One: I am at the beginning and will be at the end.
There is no God except for Me.
7 If you know any God like Me, tell it now.
Declare and demonstrate any who can compare to Me.
Or if you know and have announced events before their time,
told what is to come, then speak so now.
8 Don’t be afraid. Let your minds be clear of fear.
Haven’t I announced events and revealed what is to come?
From the earliest days, I have done so. You know it—you have seen and know.
So, go ahead, My witnesses: is there a god out there other than Me?
Witnesses: There is no other rock like God. I don’t know a single one.
All of the nations that Israel encounters are involved in some form of idol worship. They imagine these gods and fashion these images in order to satisfy a desire—a God-given desire—to connect with something, with someone out there. Human beings know at some deep, intuitive level that God exists, life is sacred, and there are mysteries more profound than the daily grind. This is why every human civilization exhibits some form of religious life and devotion. But instead of seeking the God who is, people have a tendency to create the gods they want, gods that give them control over the complexities and problems of life. Israel is elected by God for a number of reasons. Perhaps two of the most significant are to bear witness to the one True God and to warn the nations against idolatry. According to Scripture, idol worship is not some neutral, unfortunate habit people get themselves into; it is more than just a waste of time, hope, and effort. It is a dangerous substitute—a counterfeit experience—that adversely misshapes and disorders their lives. To persist in idolatry is to give way to malevolent evils and to miss out on a relationship with the one True God.
9 But whoever does make an idol is not improved or enriched. On the contrary, their passing fancies contribute nothing of value or purpose. Those who look on at such misplaced attention don’t understand what they’re seeing, and the idol-makers will end up embarrassed at best. 10 It’s easy to say, “What pathetic idiocy! Who would do such a thing—make gods that are by definition worthless?” 11 The people who worship them will be shamed and humiliated. After all, people made those gods. Yet it happens all the time. So, let’s put these images, these figurines all together; stand them up—they will tremble with terror and be ashamed.
12 A metalworker shapes the raw materials into tools and then uses them to make little gods by hammering, bending, heating, and cooling the materials. And in the process, he gets tired and hungry; without water he soon grows faint. 13 Likewise, the woodworker measures and marks the wood, chisels and planes it down, marks it with a compass, and carves it until it looks a bit like a human—lovely, maybe—in order to put it in a house. 14 To take it back a bit further, perhaps he cuts down cedars or he carefully selects the cypress or oak himself, watches it, nurtures it until it is ready for his purpose. Perhaps he plants a pine; with sun and rain, it grows tall. 15 When it’s time to harvest, he uses some of the wood for fuel to stay warm, some to heat the oven and bake bread, and some to craft a god. Then the woodworker bows down and worships before the image he just made. 16-17 Do you see the irony? He sits around, warming himself and roasting dinner with wood from the same tree from which he crafted a god to which he bows and worships and prays—one time saying, “I am warmed by the wood fire”; another time saying, “O dear god, save me.”
18-19 So we see again how it is that they’re blind—their eyes shut to the truth in front of them, their hearts and minds refusing to think and really understand what’s going on. So without stopping to think about it, the fool says, “Gosh, I used half of the wood to build a fire, and baked the bread and roasted the meat over its hot coals. After I eat, I think I’ll use the rest of it to make a repulsive god. Maybe I’ll bow down to this leftover lumber.” 20 A fool like this is feeding on ashes—his addled mind and deceived heart lead him nowhere. He can’t figure out how to save himself, much less see the error of his ways and say, “Is this idol in my right hand just a lie?”
Eternal One: Let that be a lesson to you, My people.
21 Don’t forget it, Jacob; O Israel, remember—you are Mine.
I made you; you are My servant; I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your wrongdoing, as wind sweeps a cloud from the sky:
I have cleared you of your sins, as the sun clears the morning mist.
I have rescued you; come back to Me.
23 Sing, starry sky and every constellation, for what the Eternal has done.
Shout for joy, dark soil underfoot and deep caverns below;
Erupt in joyful songs, mountains and forests, and every tree in them!
Sing joyfully, for the Eternal One has rescued Jacob, His people;
The splendor of God will be revealed in Israel.
24 The Eternal, your rescuing hero who formed you before birth, declares,
Eternal One: I am the Eternal, Creator of all there is and will be.
I alone stretched out the heavens and spread out the blue earth.
25 I confound the lying swindlers who claim to tell the future,
and I make the fortune-tellers look like fools.
I stop the highbrow intellectuals in their tracks,
and I show the fault of their reasoning.
26 But I stand behind the words of My servants,
and I accomplish what they predict.
The one who says about Jerusalem, “This place will be built up again”;
about Judah’s cities, “They will be restored”:
I confirm their predictions. They will rise from their ruins.
27 After all, I am the One who needs only to say “Dry up” to great waters,
and your rivers run dry.
28 I am the one who says of the Persian victor over Babylon,
“Cyrus is My shepherd. He will accomplish what I determine.”
My word goes out concerning Jerusalem:
“It will stand, a glorious city, again”
and of My house within it, “Restoration will begin at once.”
Isaías 44
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
El Señor es el único Dios
44 »Mas ahora escucha, Jacob, siervo Mío,
Israel, a quien Yo he escogido(A).
2 Así dice el Señor que te creó,
Que te formó desde el seno materno, y que te ayudará:
“No temas(B), Jacob, siervo Mío(C),
Ni tú, Jesurún[a](D), a quien he escogido.
3 Porque derramaré agua sobre la tierra sedienta[b],
Y torrentes sobre la tierra seca(E).
Derramaré Mi Espíritu sobre tu posteridad[c](F),
Y Mi bendición sobre tus descendientes(G).
4 Ellos brotarán entre la hierba[d]
Como sauces junto a corrientes de agua(H)”.
5 Este dirá: “Yo soy del Señor”,
Otro invocará[e] el nombre de Jacob,
Y otro escribirá en[f] su mano: “Del Señor(I) soy”,
Y se llamará con el nombre de Israel.
6 »Así dice el Señor, el Rey(J) de Israel,
Y su Redentor(K), el Señor de los ejércitos:
“Yo soy el primero y Yo soy el último(L),
Y fuera de Mí no hay Dios(M).
7 ¿Y quién como Yo? Que lo proclame y lo declare.
Sí, que en orden lo relate ante[g] Mí,
Desde que establecí la antigua nación[h].
Que les anuncien las cosas venideras
Y lo que va a acontecer(N).
8 No tiemblen ni teman;
¿No se[i] lo he hecho oír y lo he anunciado desde hace tiempo(O)?
Ustedes son Mis testigos(P).
¿Hay otro dios fuera de Mí(Q),
O hay otra Roca(R)?
No conozco ninguna”».
Insensatez de la idolatría
9 Todos los que dan forma a un ídolo[j] son nada[k], y sus cosas más preciadas de nada sirven. Aun sus propios testigos no ven ni entienden, por eso serán avergonzados(S). 10 ¿Quién ha dado forma a un dios o fundido un ídolo[l] para no tener ganancia(T)? 11 Ciertamente todos sus compañeros serán avergonzados, pues los artífices son solo hombres. Que se reúnan todos, que se levanten, que tiemblen, que sean a una avergonzados(U).
12 El herrero hace un instrumento cortante[m]; lo trabaja sobre las brasas, lo forma con martillo y lo forja con su brazo fuerte(V). Después[n] siente hambre y flaquean sus fuerzas[o]; no bebe agua, y desfallece. 13 El carpintero extiende el cordel de medir, traza el diseño[p] con tiza roja, lo labra con cinceles, lo traza con el compás(W) y le da[q] forma de hombre(X) y belleza humana para colocarlo en una casa(Y).
14 Corta cedros para sí, toma un ciprés[r] o una encina, y hace que sea fuerte entre los árboles del bosque. Planta un pino y la lluvia lo hace crecer. 15 Luego sirve para que el hombre haga fuego, y toma uno y se calienta; también hace fuego para cocer pan. Además, hace un dios y lo adora; hace de él una imagen tallada[s](Z) y se postra delante de ella(AA). 16 La mitad del leño quema en el fuego; sobre esta mitad prepara un asado, come carne y se sacia. También se calienta, y dice: «¡Ah!, me he calentado, he visto la llama». 17 Y del resto hace un dios, su ídolo[t]. Se postra delante de él, lo adora(AB), y le ruega, diciendo: «Líbrame, pues tú eres mi dios(AC)».
18 Ellos no saben ni entienden(AD), porque Él ha cerrado[u] sus ojos para que no vean y su corazón para que no comprendan(AE). 19 Ninguno reflexiona[v]; no tienen conocimiento ni inteligencia(AF) para decir: «He quemado la mitad en el fuego, y también he cocido pan sobre sus brasas. He asado carne y la he comido; y del resto ¿haré una abominación(AG)? ¿Me postraré[w] ante un pedazo de madera?». 20 Se alimenta de cenizas[x](AH); el corazón engañado le ha extraviado(AI). A sí mismo[y] no se puede librar, ni decir: «¿No es mentira(AJ) lo que tengo en mi diestra?».
Dios perdona y redime
21 «Recuerda estas cosas(AK), Jacob,
Y tú, Israel, porque eres Mi siervo.
Yo te he formado, siervo Mío eres(AL).
Israel, no me olvidaré de ti(AM).
22 He disipado como una densa nube tus transgresiones(AN),
Y como espesa niebla[z] tus pecados.
Vuélvete a Mí(AO), porque Yo te he redimido(AP)».
23 Griten de júbilo, cielos, porque el Señor lo ha hecho.
Griten de alegría, profundidades de la tierra(AQ).
Prorrumpan, montes, en gritos de júbilo(AR),
Y el bosque, y todo árbol que en él hay(AS),
Porque el Señor ha redimido a Jacob(AT)
Y ha mostrado Su gloria[aa] en Israel(AU).
24 Así dice el Señor, tu Redentor(AV),
El que te formó desde el seno materno(AW):
«Yo, el Señor, creador de todo,
Que extiendo los cielos Yo solo
Y afirmo[ab] la tierra sin ayuda[ac](AX).
25 Hago fallar los pronósticos[ad] de los impostores[ae](AY),
Hago[af] necios a los adivinos,
Hago retroceder a los sabios,
Y convierto[ag] en necedad su sabiduría(AZ).
26 Yo soy el que confirmo la palabra de Su siervo,
Y cumplo[ah] el propósito de Sus mensajeros(BA);
El que dice de Jerusalén: “Será habitada”;
Y de las ciudades de Judá(BB): “Serán reedificadas(BC),
Y sus ruinas levantaré”.
27 Yo soy el que dice a la profundidad del mar: “Sécate”;
Y Yo secaré tus ríos(BD).
28 El que dice de Ciro(BE): “Él es Mi pastor,
Y él cumplirá todos Mis deseos”,
Y dice[ai] de Jerusalén: “Será reedificada(BF)”,
Y al templo: “Serán echados tus cimientos”».
Footnotes
- Isaías 44:2 O Israel.
- Isaías 44:3 O el que tiene sed.
- Isaías 44:3 Lit. simiente.
- Isaías 44:4 Otra posible lectura es: como hierba entre las aguas.
- Isaías 44:5 Otra posible lectura es: otro será llamado con.
- Isaías 44:5 O con.
- Isaías 44:7 Lit. a.
- Isaías 44:7 O pueblo.
- Isaías 44:8 Lit. te.
- Isaías 44:9 O una imagen tallada.
- Isaías 44:9 O vacuidad.
- Isaías 44:10 O una imagen tallada.
- Isaías 44:12 O hacha.
- Isaías 44:12 Lit. También.
- Isaías 44:12 Lit. y no hay fuerza.
- Isaías 44:13 Lit. lo traza.
- Isaías 44:13 Lit. lo hace en.
- Isaías 44:14 O encina.
- Isaías 44:15 O ídolo.
- Isaías 44:17 O imagen tallada.
- Isaías 44:18 O embadurnado.
- Isaías 44:19 Lit. vuelve a su corazón.
- Isaías 44:19 O Y del resto hago y me postro.
- Isaías 44:20 O Es compañero de las cenizas.
- Isaías 44:20 Lit. A su alma.
- Isaías 44:22 O nube.
- Isaías 44:23 O se ha glorificado.
- Isaías 44:24 Lit. expando.
- Isaías 44:24 O tierra, ¿y quién estaba conmigo?
- Isaías 44:25 Lit. las señales.
- Isaías 44:25 I.e. falsos profetas.
- Isaías 44:25 Lit. El hace.
- Isaías 44:25 Lit. El convierte.
- Isaías 44:26 Lit. El cumple.
- Isaías 44:28 Lit. al decir.
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