以賽亞書 44
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
以色列蒙揀選
44 「我的僕人雅各，
我所揀選的以色列啊，
現在你要留心聽。
2 造你、使你在母胎中成形、
幫助你的耶和華說，
『我的僕人雅各，
我所揀選的耶書崙[a]啊，
不要害怕。
3 我要用水澆灌乾渴之地，
使河流滋潤乾旱之土。
我要用我的靈澆灌你的後裔，
使我的福澤臨到你的子孫。
4 他們要滋長如青草，
又如溪旁楊柳。』
5 這個說，『我屬於耶和華』，
那個說，『我是雅各的子孫』，
還有人手上寫著，『耶和華之民』，
稱自己屬於以色列。
6 「耶和華，以色列的君王和救贖主，
萬軍之耶和華說，
『我是首先的，我是末後的，
除我以外再沒有真神。
7 誰能與我相比？讓他告訴我。
自從我設立這古老的民族以來所發生的事和將要發生的事，
讓他告訴我。
8 不要恐懼，不要害怕，
我不是早已告訴過你們嗎？
你們是我的證人。
除我以外還有真神嗎？
沒有，沒有別的磐石，
一個也沒有。』」
9 製造偶像的真是無用，他們珍愛的偶像毫無價值。拜神像的人目盲眼瞎，愚昧無知，自找羞辱。 10 製造神像、雕刻無益偶像的是誰？ 11 看啊，製造神像的工匠不過是人，他們必羞愧。讓他們一起來對質吧，他們必恐懼、羞愧。 12 鐵匠把鐵塊放在炭火裡燒，用他強壯的臂膀揮動鐵錘把它打成偶像。他饑餓時就會無力，口渴時就會疲乏。 13 木匠拉線測量木料，用筆勾出形狀，用圓規畫出模樣，仿照人的樣子用鑿子做成逼真的神像，放在廟宇裡。 14 他砍伐香柏木，或從林中選取柏木和橡木。他栽種松樹，雨水使它長大。 15 這樹可以用來作燃料，他取一些木料生火取暖、烤餅，又製成神像來祭拜，雕成偶像來叩拜。 16 他用一半木頭烤肉，飽餐一頓，並用火取暖，說：「啊！我這裡有火，真暖和。」 17 他用另一半木頭造了一個神，一個偶像，向它俯伏叩拜、禱告說：「你是我的神明，求你拯救我。」 18 他們愚昧無知，因為眼睛被封住以致看不見，心竅被塞住以致不明白。 19 他們無人思想，無人明白，無人醒悟說：「我用一半木頭當柴烤餅、烤肉吃，我豈能用另一半木頭造可憎的神像？我豈能向一塊木頭叩拜？」 20 他們以灰為食，心智迷糊，走入歧途，不能自救，也不會說：「我右手拿的神像不是假的嗎？」
耶和華救贖以色列
21 「雅各啊，以色列啊，
要記住這些事，
因為你是我的僕人。
我造了你，你是我的僕人；
以色列啊，我不會忘記你。
22 我除去了你的過犯和罪惡，
使它們如雲霧消散。
歸向我吧，因為我救贖了你。」
23 諸天啊，歌唱吧！
因為耶和華成就了這事。
地的深處啊，歡呼吧！
眾山嶺和林中的樹木啊，
你們都要歌唱！
因為耶和華救贖了雅各，
在以色列彰顯了祂的榮耀。
24 在母腹中造你、救贖你的耶和華說：
「我是創造萬物的耶和華，
我獨自鋪展穹蒼，開闢大地。
25 我使假先知的預兆無法應驗，
使占卜者醜態百出；
我顛覆智者的知識，
使之愚不可及。
26 我使我僕人的話應驗，
使我使者的計劃成就。
我說耶路撒冷必有人居住，
我說猶大的城邑必重建起來，
從廢墟中重建起來。
27 我對深海說，『枯乾吧！
我要使你的河流乾涸』；
28 我說塞魯士是我的牧人，
他必完成我的旨意，
他會下令重建耶路撒冷，
降旨奠定聖殿的根基。
Footnotes
- 44·2 「耶書崙」是以色列的暱稱。
Isaiah 44
King James Version
44 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 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.
3 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:
4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
Isaiah 44
Names of God Bible
44 But now listen, my servant Jacob,
Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 Yahweh made you, formed you in the womb, and will help you.
This is what Yahweh says:
Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,
Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen.
3 I will pour water on thirsty ground and rain on dry land.
I will pour my Ruach on your offspring
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up with the grass
as poplars spring up by streams.
5 One person will say, “I belong to Yahweh.”
Another will call on the name of Jacob.
Another will write on his hand, “Yahweh’s,”
and he will adopt the name of Israel.
The Nations Form Idols, But the Lord Formed Israel
6 Yahweh is Israel’s Melek and Go’el.
He is Yahweh Tsebaoth.
This is what Yahweh says:
I am the first and the last,
and there is no Elohim except me.
7 If there is anyone like me, let him say so.
Let him tell me what happened
when I established my people long ago.
Then let him predict what will happen to them.
8 Don’t be terrified or afraid.
Didn’t I make this known to you long ago?
You are my witnesses.
Is there any Elohim except me?
There is no other rock; I know of none.
9 All who make idols are nothing. Their precious treasures are worthless. Their own witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame. 10 Nothing comes from making gods or casting metal idols. 11 Everyone associated with the gods will be put to shame. The craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all get together and take their stand. They will be frightened and ashamed together.
12 Blacksmiths shape iron into tools. They work them over the coals and shape them with hammers, working them with their strong arms. They get hungry, and their strength fails. If they don’t drink water, they will faint.
13 Carpenters measure blocks of wood with chalk lines. They mark them with pens. They carve them with chisels and mark them with compasses. They carve them into forms of people, beautiful people, so the idols can live in shrines.
14 They cut down cedars for themselves. Then they choose fir trees or oaks. They let them grow strong among the trees in the forest. Then they plant cedars, and the rain makes them grow. 15 These trees become fuel for people to burn. So they take some of them and warm themselves with them. They start fires and bake bread. They also make gods from these trees and worship them. They make them into carved statues and bow in front of them. 16 Half of the wood they burn in the fire. Over this half they roast meat that they can eat until they are full. They also warm themselves and say, “Ah! We are warm. We can see the fire!” 17 But the rest of the wood they make into gods, carved statues. They bow to them and worship them. They pray to them, saying, “Rescue us, because you are our gods.”
18 They don’t know or understand anything. Their eyes are plastered shut, so they can’t see. And their minds are closed, so they can’t understand. 19 No one stops to think. No one has enough knowledge or understanding to say, “I burned half of the wood in the fire. I also baked bread over its coals. I roasted meat and ate it. Now I am making the rest of the wood into a disgusting thing and bowing to a block of wood.” 20 They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They can’t rescue themselves or ask themselves, “Isn’t what I hold in my right hand a false god?”
21 Remember these things, Jacob:
You are my servant, Israel.
I formed you; you are my servant.
Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud
and your sins like the morning mist.
Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you.
23 Sing with joy, you heavens, because Yahweh has done this.
Rejoice, you deep places of the earth.
Break into shouts of joy, you mountains,
you forests and every tree in them.
Yahweh has reclaimed Jacob.
He will display his glory in Israel.
Through Cyrus the Lord Will Set Israel Free
24 Yahweh reclaimed you.
He formed you in the womb.
This is what Yahweh says:
I, Yahweh, made everything.
I stretched out the heavens by myself.
I spread out the earth all alone.
25 I cause the signs of false prophets to fail
and make fools of fortunetellers.
I make wise men retreat
and turn their knowledge into foolishness.
26 He confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the plan of his messengers.
He says about Jerusalem, “It will be inhabited.”
He says about the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt.”
He says about their ruins, “I will restore them.”
27 He says to the deep water, “Dry up.”
So I will dry up your rivers.
28 He says about Cyrus, “He is my shepherd.
He will do everything I want him to do.”
He says about Jerusalem, “It will be rebuilt.”
He says about the temple, “Your foundation will be laid.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 44:2 “Jeshurun” is another name for Israel.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.