21 The people whom (A)I formed for Myself
(B)Will declare My praise.

The Shortcomings of Israel

22 “Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;
But you have become (C)weary of Me, Israel.
23 You have (D)not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,
Nor have you (E)honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not (F)burdened you with [a]offerings,
Nor wearied you with (G)incense.
24 You have not bought Me [b](H)sweet cane with money,
Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have (I)wearied Me with your wrongdoings.

25 “I, I alone, am the one who (J)wipes out your wrongdoings (K)for My own sake,
And I will (L)not remember your sins.
26 [c]Meet Me in court, (M)let’s argue our case together;
State your cause, (N)so that you may be proved right.
27 Your (O)first [d]forefather sinned,
And your [e](P)spokesmen have rebelled against Me.
28 So I will profane the [f]officials of the sanctuary,
And I will turn Jacob over to (Q)destruction and Israel to (R)abuse.

The Blessings of Israel

44 “But now listen, Jacob, My (S)servant,
And Israel, whom I have chosen:
This is what the Lord says, He who made you
And (T)formed you from the womb, who (U)will help you:
(V)Do not fear, Jacob My servant,
And [g](W)Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For (X)I will pour water on [h]the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will (Y)pour out My Spirit on your (Z)offspring,
And My blessing on your descendants;
And they will spring up [i]among the grass
Like (AA)poplars by streams of water.’
This one will say, ‘I am the Lords’;
And that one [j]will call on the name of Jacob;
And another will (AB)write [k]on his hand, ‘Belonging to the Lord,’
And will give himself Israel’s name with honor.

“This is what the Lord says, He who is the (AC)King of Israel and his (AD)Redeemer, the Lord of armies:

‘I am the (AE)first and I am the last,
And there is no God (AF)besides Me.
Who is like Me? (AG)Let him proclaim and declare it;
And, let him confront Me
[l]Beginning with My establishing of the ancient [m]nation.
Then let them declare to them the things that are coming
And the events that are going to take place.
Do not tremble and do not be afraid;
(AH)Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it?
And (AI)you are My witnesses.
Is there any God (AJ)besides Me,
Or is there any other (AK)Rock?
I know of none.’”

The Foolishness of Idolatry

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 (AL)put to shame. 10 Who has fashioned a god or cast an idol to (AM)no benefit? 11 Behold, all his companions will be (AN)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 (AO)craftsman of iron shapes a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, [n]fashioning it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. He also gets hungry and [o]his strength fails; he drinks no water and becomes weary. 13 (AP)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 (AQ)mankind, so that it may sit in a (AR)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 (AS)makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image and (AT)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 (AU)makes into a god, his carved image. He bows down before it and worships; he also (AV)prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”

18 They do not (AW)know, nor do they understand, for He has (AX)smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. 19 No one [p]remembers, nor is there (AY)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 [q]I make the rest of it into an (AZ)abomination, [r]I bow down before a block of wood!” 20 He [s](BA)feeds on ashes; a (BB)deceived heart has misled him. And he cannot save [t]himself, nor say, “(BC)Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

God Forgives and Redeems

21 (BD)Remember these things, Jacob,
And Israel, for you are (BE)My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant,
Israel, you will (BF)not be forgotten by Me.
22 I have (BG)wiped out your wrongdoings like a thick cloud
And your sins like a [u]heavy mist.
(BH)Return to Me, for I have (BI)redeemed you.”
23 (BJ)Shout for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done it!
Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth;
(BK)Break into a shout of jubilation, you mountains,
Forest, and every tree in it;
For (BL)the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And in Israel He (BM)shows His glory.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:23 Or a meal offering
  2. Isaiah 43:24 Or calamus
  3. Isaiah 43:26 Or Report to Me
  4. Isaiah 43:27 Lit father
  5. Isaiah 43:27 Or interpreters
  6. Isaiah 43:28 Or holy princes
  7. Isaiah 44:2 I.e., Israel
  8. Isaiah 44:3 Or him who is thirsty
  9. Isaiah 44:4 Another reading is like grass among the waters
  10. Isaiah 44:5 Another reading is will be called by the name of Jacob
  11. Isaiah 44:5 Or with
  12. Isaiah 44:7 Lit From My establishing of
  13. Isaiah 44:7 Or people
  14. Isaiah 44:12 Lit and fashions
  15. Isaiah 44:12 Lit there is no strength
  16. Isaiah 44:19 Lit returns to his heart
  17. Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I make?
  18. Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I bow...?
  19. Isaiah 44:20 Or is a companion of ashes
  20. Isaiah 44:20 Lit his soul
  21. Isaiah 44:22 Or cloud

21 עַם־זוּ֙ יָצַ֣רְתִּי לִ֔י תְּהִלָּתִ֖י יְסַפֵּֽרוּ׃ ס

22 וְלֹא־אֹתִ֥י קָרָ֖אתָ יַֽעֲקֹ֑ב כִּֽי־יָגַ֥עְתָּ בִּ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

23 לֹֽא־הֵבֵ֤יאתָ לִּי֙ שֵׂ֣ה עֹלֹתֶ֔יךָ וּזְבָחֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א כִבַּדְתָּ֑נִי לֹ֤א הֶעֱבַדְתִּ֙יךָ֙ בְּמִנְחָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א הוֹגַעְתִּ֖יךָ בִּלְבוֹנָֽה׃

24 לֹא־קָנִ֨יתָ לִּ֤י בַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ קָנֶ֔ה וְחֵ֥לֶב זְבָחֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א הִרְוִיתָ֑נִי אַ֗ךְ הֶעֱבַדְתַּ֙נִי֙ בְּחַטֹּאותֶ֔יךָ הוֹגַעְתַּ֖נִי בַּעֲוֺנֹתֶֽיךָ׃ ס

25 אָנֹכִ֨י אָנֹכִ֥י ה֛וּא מֹחֶ֥ה פְשָׁעֶ֖יךָ לְמַעֲנִ֑י וְחַטֹּאתֶ֖יךָ לֹ֥א אֶזְכֹּֽר׃

26 הַזְכִּירֵ֕נִי נִשָּׁפְטָ֖ה יָ֑חַד סַפֵּ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה לְמַ֥עַן תִּצְדָּֽק׃

27 אָבִ֥יךָ הָרִאשׁ֖וֹן חָטָ֑א וּמְלִיצֶ֖יךָ פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽי׃

28 וַאֲחַלֵּ֖ל שָׂ֣רֵי קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לַחֵ֙רֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְגִדּוּפִֽים׃ ס

44 וְעַתָּ֥ה שְׁמַ֖ע יַעֲקֹ֣ב עַבְדִּ֑י וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּחַ֥רְתִּי בֽוֹ׃

כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה עֹשֶׂ֛ךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ מִבֶּ֖טֶן יַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּ אַל־תִּירָא֙ עַבְדִּ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וִישֻׁר֖וּן בָּחַ֥רְתִּי בֽוֹ׃

כִּ֤י אֶצָּק־מַ֙יִם֙ עַל־צָמֵ֔א וְנֹזְלִ֖ים עַל־יַבָּשָׁ֑ה אֶצֹּ֤ק רוּחִי֙ עַל־זַרְעֶ֔ךָ וּבִרְכָתִ֖י עַל־צֶאֱצָאֶֽיךָ׃

וְצָמְח֖וּ בְּבֵ֣ין חָצִ֑יר כַּעֲרָבִ֖ים עַל־יִבְלֵי־מָֽיִם׃

זֶ֤ה יֹאמַר֙ לַֽיהוָ֣ה אָ֔נִי וְזֶ֖ה יִקְרָ֣א בְשֵֽׁם־יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְזֶ֗ה יִכְתֹּ֤ב יָדוֹ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וּבְשֵׁ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יְכַנֶּֽה׃ פ

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְגֹאֲל֖וֹ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת אֲנִ֤י רִאשׁוֹן֙ וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲר֔וֹן וּמִבַּלְעָדַ֖י אֵ֥ין אֱלֹהִֽים׃

וּמִֽי־כָמ֣וֹנִי יִקְרָ֗א וְיַגִּידֶ֤הָ וְיַעְרְכֶ֙הָ֙ לִ֔י מִשּׂוּמִ֖י עַם־עוֹלָ֑ם וְאֹתִיּ֛וֹת וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּבֹ֖אנָה יַגִּ֥ידוּ לָֽמוֹ׃

אַֽל־תִּפְחֲדוּ֙ וְאַל־תִּרְה֔וּ הֲלֹ֥א מֵאָ֛ז הִשְׁמַעְתִּ֥יךָ וְהִגַּ֖דְתִּי וְאַתֶּ֣ם עֵדָ֑י הֲיֵ֤שׁ אֱל֙וֹהַּ֙ מִבַּלְעָדַ֔י וְאֵ֥ין צ֖וּר בַּל־יָדָֽעְתִּי׃

יֹֽצְרֵי־פֶ֤סֶל כֻּלָּם֙ תֹּ֔הוּ וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖ם בַּל־יוֹעִ֑ילוּ וְעֵדֵיהֶ֣ם הֵ֗ׄמָּׄהׄ בַּל־יִרְא֛וּ וּבַל־יֵדְע֖וּ לְמַ֥עַן יֵבֹֽשׁוּ׃

10 מִֽי־יָצַ֥ר אֵ֖ל וּפֶ֣סֶל נָסָ֑ךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י הוֹעִֽיל׃

11 הֵ֤ן כָּל־חֲבֵרָיו֙ יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ וְחָרָשִׁ֥ים הֵ֖מָּה מֵֽאָדָ֑ם יִֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּ כֻלָּם֙ יַֽעֲמֹ֔דוּ יִפְחֲד֖וּ יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ יָֽחַד׃

12 חָרַ֤שׁ בַּרְזֶל֙ מַֽעֲצָ֔ד וּפָעַל֙ בַּפֶּחָ֔ם וּבַמַּקָּב֖וֹת יִצְּרֵ֑הוּ וַיִּפְעָלֵ֙הוּ֙ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ כֹּח֔וֹ גַּם־רָעֵב֙ וְאֵ֣ין כֹּ֔חַ לֹא־שָׁ֥תָה מַ֖יִם וַיִּיעָֽף׃

13 חָרַ֣שׁ עֵצִים֮ נָ֣טָה קָו֒ יְתָאֲרֵ֣הוּ בַשֶּׂ֔רֶד יַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ בַּמַּקְצֻע֔וֹת וּבַמְּחוּגָ֖ה יְתָאֳרֵ֑הוּ וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ כְּתַבְנִ֣ית אִ֔ישׁ כְּתִפְאֶ֥רֶת אָדָ֖ם לָשֶׁ֥בֶת בָּֽיִת׃

14 לִכְרָת־ל֣וֹ אֲרָזִ֔ים וַיִּקַּ֤ח תִּרְזָה֙ וְאַלּ֔וֹן וַיְאַמֶּץ־ל֖וֹ בַּעֲצֵי־יָ֑עַר נָטַ֥ע אֹ֖רֶן וְגֶ֥שֶׁם יְגַדֵּֽל׃

15 וְהָיָ֤ה לְאָדָם֙ לְבָעֵ֔ר וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵהֶם֙ וַיָּ֔חָם אַף־יַשִּׂ֖יק וְאָ֣פָה לָ֑חֶם אַף־יִפְעַל־אֵל֙ וַיִּשְׁתָּ֔חוּ עָשָׂ֥הוּ פֶ֖סֶל וַיִּסְגָּד־לָֽמוֹ׃

16 חֶצְיוֹ֙ שָׂרַ֣ף בְּמוֹ־אֵ֔שׁ עַל־חֶצְיוֹ֙ בָּשָׂ֣ר יֹאכֵ֔ל יִצְלֶ֥ה צָלִ֖י וְיִשְׂבָּ֑ע אַף־יָחֹם֙ וְיֹאמַ֣ר הֶאָ֔ח חַמּוֹתִ֖י רָאִ֥יתִי אֽוּר׃

17 וּשְׁאֵ֣רִית֔וֹ לְאֵ֥ל עָשָׂ֖ה לְפִסְל֑וֹ ׳יִסְגּוֹד־יִסְגָּד־ל֤וֹ׳ וְיִשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל אֵלָ֔יו וְיֹאמַר֙ הַצִּילֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י אֵלִ֖י אָֽתָּה׃

18 לֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יָבִ֑ינוּ כִּ֣י טַ֤ח מֵֽרְאוֹת֙ עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם מֵהַשְׂכִּ֖יל לִבֹּתָֽם׃

19 וְלֹא־יָשִׁ֣יב אֶל־לִבּ֗וֹ וְלֹ֨א דַ֥עַת וְלֹֽא־תְבוּנָה֮ לֵאמֹר֒ חֶצְי֞וֹ שָׂרַ֣פְתִּי בְמוֹ־אֵ֗שׁ וְ֠אַף אָפִ֤יתִי עַל־גֶּחָלָיו֙ לֶ֔חֶם אֶצְלֶ֥ה בָשָׂ֖ר וְאֹכֵ֑ל וְיִתְרוֹ֙ לְתוֹעֵבָ֣ה אֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה לְב֥וּל עֵ֖ץ אֶסְגּֽוֹד׃

20 רֹעֶ֣ה אֵ֔פֶר לֵ֥ב הוּתַ֖ל הִטָּ֑הוּ וְלֹֽא־יַצִּ֤יל אֶת־נַפְשׁוֹ֙ וְלֹ֣א יֹאמַ֔ר הֲל֥וֹא שֶׁ֖קֶר בִּימִינִֽי׃ ס

21 זְכָר־אֵ֣לֶּה יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כִּ֣י עַבְדִּי־אָ֑תָּה יְצַרְתִּ֤יךָ עֶֽבֶד־לִי֙ אַ֔תָּה יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א תִנָּשֵֽׁנִי׃

22 מָחִ֤יתִי כָעָב֙ פְּשָׁעֶ֔יךָ וְכֶעָנָ֖ן חַטֹּאותֶ֑יךָ שׁוּבָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י כִּ֥י גְאַלְתִּֽיךָ׃

23 רָנּ֨וּ שָׁמַ֜יִם כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֣ה יְהוָ֗ה הָרִ֙יעוּ֙ תַּחְתִּיּ֣וֹת אָ֔רֶץ פִּצְח֤וּ הָרִים֙ רִנָּ֔ה יַ֖עַר וְכָל־עֵ֣ץ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־גָאַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִתְפָּאָֽר׃ פ