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以色列人將蒙賜福

44 “但現在,我的僕人雅各,

我所揀選的以色列啊!你要聽。

那創造你,從母胎裡就塑造了你,

又要幫助你的耶和華這樣說:

我的僕人雅各啊!

我所揀選的耶書崙啊!你不要懼怕。

因為我要把水澆灌乾渴之處,

把河水澆灌乾旱之地;

我必把我的靈澆灌你的後裔,

把我的福降給你的子孫。

他們要從草中生長起來,

像溪水旁的柳樹。

這個必說:‘我是屬耶和華的’;

那個也必以雅各的名稱呼自己;

另一個必親手寫上‘我是屬耶和華的’,

並且要以以色列的名字替自己命名。”

 神是獨一真神

耶和華以色列的王,

以色列的救贖主、萬軍之耶和華這樣說:

“我是首先的,我是末後的;

除我以外,再沒有真神。

誰像我呢?讓他宣告,

讓他述說,又在我面前陳明吧!

自從我設立古時的子民,

未來的事和將要發生的事,

讓他們把它們述說出來吧!

你們不要驚惶,也不要懼怕。

我不是老早就說了給你們聽,告訴了你們嗎?

你們就是我的見證人。

除我以外,還有真神嗎?

沒有別的磐石;

我一個也不知道。”

製造偶像者的愚昧

製造偶像的人,盡都是虛空的,

他們所喜愛的,都沒有益處。

他們的見證人,一無所見,

一無所知,以致他們蒙羞。

10 誰製造神像,或鑄造偶像,

不想得到益處呢?

11 看哪!所有與它同夥的都必蒙羞;

工匠也不過是人罷了。 

讓他們都集合起來,都站立起來;

讓他們都懼怕,都一同蒙羞。

12 鐵匠先用工具在鐵上雕刻,

然後在火炭中加工,

再用鎚子把鐵錘成形狀,

用他有力的膀臂錘成。

他若飢餓,就沒有力量;

他若不喝水,就疲乏。

13 木匠拉線,

用筆畫出輪廓,

用鉋子鉋平,

用圓規畫出模樣,

做成人的形狀,

有人一般的美麗,好住在廟裡。

14 他為自己砍伐香柏樹,

或選取榆樹和橡樹,

讓它在樹林中長起來;

他栽種松樹,讓雨水使它長大。

15 人可以用這樹作燃料,

可以拿來生火取暖,

又可以燒著烤餅;

人竟然用它做神像敬拜,

他做了雕刻的偶像,又向它叩拜。

16 他把木頭的一半放在火裡燃燒;

在上面烤肉;

吃了烤肉,並且吃飽了,

就自己烤火取暖,說:

“哈哈!我暖和了,我看見火了。”

17 他用剩下來的一半做了一個神像,

就是他雕刻的偶像,

他向它俯伏,向它敬拜,

又向它禱告,說:

“求你救我,因為你是我的神。”

18 他們並不知道,也不明白;

因為耶和華閉住他們的眼睛,使他們不能看見,

塞住他們的心,使他們不能明白。

19 沒有人細心思想,

也沒有人有知識有聰明說:

“我把木頭的一半放在火裡燃燒,

我也在炭火上烘過餅,

烤過肉吃,

剩下的,我卻用來做了一個可憎之物,

我要向木頭叩拜嗎?”

20 他所追求的只是灰塵,被迷惑了的心使他偏離正道了;

他不能救自己,也不會說:

“在我的右手中不是有個假神嗎?”

耶和華救贖之恩

21 雅各和以色列啊!要記念這些話,

因為你是我的僕人。

我造了你,是要你作我的僕人;

以色列啊!你必不會被我忘記。

22 我塗抹了你的過犯,像密雲消散;

我塗抹了你的罪惡,如薄雲滅沒,

你當歸向我,因為我救贖了你。

23 諸天啊!你們要歡呼,因為耶和華作成了這事。

地的深處啊!你們要吶喊。

群山啊!你們要發聲歡呼。

樹林和其中所有的樹啊!

你們都當這樣。

因為耶和華救贖了雅各,

他要藉著以色列使自己得榮耀。

24 你的救贖主,就是那在母胎中就造了你的耶和華這樣說:

“我耶和華是創造萬物的,

我是獨自展開諸天,

鋪張大地的。

25 我使說假話者的兆頭失效,

使占卜者都變成愚昧人;

我使有智慧的人後退,

使他們的知識變為愚拙。

26 我使我僕人的話實現,

使我使者的謀算成就。

我對耶路撒冷說:‘你必有人居住。’

對猶大的城鎮說:‘你們要再被建造起來,

至於其中的廢墟,我必重建它們。’

27 我對深淵說:‘你乾了吧,

我必使你的江河乾涸!’

28 我對古列說:‘我的牧人;

他必成就我所喜悅的一切。’

他要對耶路撒冷說:‘你必被重建起來!’

他必對聖殿說:‘你的根基要奠定!’”

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,(A)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.(B)
This is what the Lord says—
    he who made(C) you, who formed you in the womb,(D)
    and who will help(E) you:
Do not be afraid,(F) Jacob, my servant,(G)
    Jeshurun,[a](H) whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water(I) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;(J)
I will pour out my Spirit(K) on your offspring,
    and my blessing(L) on your descendants.(M)
They will spring up like grass(N) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees(O) by flowing streams.(P)
Some will say, ‘I belong(Q) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,(R) ‘The Lord’s,’(S)
    and will take the name Israel.

The Lord, Not Idols

“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King(T) and Redeemer,(U) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;(V)
    apart from me there is no God.(W)
Who then is like me?(X) 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(Y) what will come.
Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim(Z) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God(AA) besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock;(AB) I know not one.”

All who make idols(AC) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.(AD)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;(AE)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.(AF)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,(AG)
    which can profit nothing?(AH)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;(AI)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.(AJ)

12 The blacksmith(AK) 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.(AL)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.(AM)
13 The carpenter(AN) 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,(AO)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.(AP)
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,(AQ) and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel(AR) 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(AS) it;
    he makes an idol and bows(AT) 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.(AU)
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.(AV)
He prays(AW) to it and says,
    “Save(AX) me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand(AY) nothing;
    their eyes(AZ) 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(BA) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(BB)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(BC) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(BD)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(BE) a deluded(BF) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(BG)

21 “Remember(BH) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.(BI)
I have made you, you are my servant;(BJ)
    Israel, I will not forget you.(BK)
22 I have swept away(BL) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return(BM) to me,
    for I have redeemed(BN) you.”

23 Sing for joy,(BO) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth(BP) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,(BQ)
    you forests and all your trees,(BR)
for the Lord has redeemed(BS) Jacob,
    he displays his glory(BT) in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

24 “This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(BU) who formed(BV) you in the womb:(BW)

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,(BX)
    who spreads out the earth(BY) by myself,
25 who foils(BZ) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,(CA)
who overthrows the learning of the wise(CB)
    and turns it into nonsense,(CC)
26 who carries out the words(CD) of his servants
    and fulfills(CE) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,(CF) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,(CG) ‘I will restore them,’(CH)
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up(CI) your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus,(CJ) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,(CK) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,(CL) “Let its foundations(CM) be laid.”’

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.

44 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:

Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.