Isaiah 43:16-44:8

New International Version

¹⁶This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,^(A)
¹⁷who drew out^(B) the chariots and horses,^(C)
    the army and reinforcements together,^(D)
and they lay^(E) there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:^(F)
¹⁸“Forget the former things;^(G)
    do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹See, I am doing a new thing!^(H)
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness^(I)
    and streams in the wasteland.^(J)
²⁰The wild animals^(K) honor me,
    the jackals^(L) and the owls,
because I provide water^(M) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
²¹    the people I formed^(N) for myself^(O)
    that they may proclaim my praise.^(P)

²²“Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied^(Q) yourselves for^[a] me, Israel.^(R)
²³You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,^(S)
    nor honored^(T) me with your sacrifices.^(U)
I have not burdened^(V) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands^(W) for incense.^(X)
²⁴You have not bought any fragrant calamus^(Y) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat^(Z) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied^(AA) me with your offenses.^(AB)

²⁵“I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,^(AC) for my own sake,^(AD)
    and remembers your sins^(AE) no more.^(AF)
²⁶Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;^(AG)
    state the case^(AH) for your innocence.
²⁷Your first father^(AI) sinned;
    those I sent to teach^(AJ) you rebelled^(AK) against me.
²⁸So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction^[b]^(AL)
    and Israel to scorn.^(AM)

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,^(AN)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.^(AO)
²This is what the Lord says—
    he who made^(AP) you, who formed you in the womb,^(AQ)
    and who will help^(AR) you:
Do not be afraid,^(AS) Jacob, my servant,^(AT)
    Jeshurun,^[c]^(AU) whom I have chosen.
³For I will pour water^(AV) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;^(AW)
I will pour out my Spirit^(AX) on your offspring,
    and my blessing^(AY) on your descendants.^(AZ)
⁴They will spring up like grass^(BA) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees^(BB) by flowing streams.^(BC)
⁵Some will say, ‘I belong^(BD) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,^(BE) ‘The Lord’s,’^(BF)
    and will take the name Israel.

The Lord, Not Idols

⁶“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King^(BG) and Redeemer,^(BH) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;^(BI)
    apart from me there is no God.^(BJ)
⁷Who then is like me?^(BK) 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^(BL) what will come.
⁸Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim^(BM) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God^(BN) besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock;^(BO) I know not one.”

Footnotes

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