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 (A)makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image and (B)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 (C)makes into a god, his carved image. He bows down before it and worships; he also (D)prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”

18 They do not (E)know, nor do they understand, for He has (F)smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. 19 No one [a]remembers, nor is there (G)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 [b]I make the rest of it into an (H)abomination, [c]I bow down before a block of wood!” 20 He [d](I)feeds on ashes; a (J)deceived heart has misled him. And he cannot save [e]himself, nor say, “(K)Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

God Forgives and Redeems

21 (L)Remember these things, Jacob,
And Israel, for you are (M)My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant,
Israel, you will (N)not be forgotten by Me.
22 I have (O)wiped out your wrongdoings like a thick cloud
And your sins like a [f]heavy mist.
(P)Return to Me, for I have (Q)redeemed you.”
23 (R)Shout for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done it!
Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth;
(S)Break into a shout of jubilation, you mountains,
Forest, and every tree in it;
For (T)the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And in Israel He (U)shows His glory.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:19 Lit returns to his heart
  2. Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I make?
  3. Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I bow...?
  4. Isaiah 44:20 Or is a companion of ashes
  5. Isaiah 44:20 Lit his soul
  6. Isaiah 44:22 Or cloud

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