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耶和华掌管历史

48 雅各家,就是被称为以色列的,

从犹大的水源出来的,

指着耶和华的名起誓,

却不是出于诚实和公义,

提说以色列的 神的啊!你们要听这话。

他们被称为圣城的人,

又倚靠以色列的 神;

他的名字是万军之耶和华。

主说:“先前的事,我从古时就预言过了,

已经从我的口里说出来了,又说给人听了;

我忽然行事,事情就都成就了。

因为我知道你是顽固的,

你的颈项是铁的,

你的额是铜的,

所以我从古时就告诉了你;

在事情还没有发生以前,我就说给你听了,

免得你说:‘这些事是我的偶像所作的,

是我的雕像和铸像所命定的。’

你已经听见了,现在要注意这一切事。

难道你不述说吗?

从今以后,我要把新的事,

就是你不知道的隐秘的事,告诉你。

这些事是现在才造成的,并不是从古时就有的;

在今天以前,你还未曾听见过,

免得你说:‘看哪!这些事我早已知道了。’

你从来没有听过,也不知道;

你的耳朵从来未曾开通。

我原知道你行事非常诡诈;

你自出母胎以来,就被称为叛徒。

为了我的名的缘故,我暂时不发怒;

为了我的名誉的缘故,我向你忍耐;

不把你剪除。

10 看哪!我熬炼了你,却不像熬炼银子;

你在苦难的炉中,我拣选了你。

11 为了我自己的缘故,为了我自己的缘故,

我必作这事。

我的名怎能被亵渎呢?

我必不把我的荣耀归给别人。

古列的使命

12 “雅各,我所呼召的以色列啊!你要听我的话。

我就是‘那位’,我是首先的,也是末后的。

13 我的手奠定了大地的根基,

我的右手展开了诸天;

我一呼唤它们,它们就一同站着侍候。

14 列国啊!你们都要集合起来听。

他们中间有谁预言过这些事呢?

耶和华爱他,他必向巴比伦行他所喜悦的;

他的膀臂也必击打迦勒底人。

15 我亲自说过,又呼召了他;

我带领了他来,他所行的就必亨通。

16 你们要就近我,当听这话:

‘从起初我就没有在隐密处说过话,

自从有这事情的存在,我就在那里。’

现在主耶和华差遣了我和他的灵。

17 耶和华你的救赎主,以色列的圣者,这样说:

‘我是耶和华你的 神,是教导你,使你得益处的,

是在你当行的道路上引导你的。

18 但愿你一向都留心听从我的命令,

这样你的平安就像河水滔滔,

你的公义就如海浪滚滚;

19 你的后裔必像海沙那么多,

你腹中的子孙要如沙粒这样多;

他们的名字必不会被剪除,也不会从我面前消灭。

 神的子民脱离巴比伦

20 “你们要从巴比伦出来,从迦勒底人中逃出来,

你们要用欢呼的声音宣告,把这事说给人听,

你们要把这事宣扬出去,直到地极,说:‘耶和华救赎了他的仆人雅各了。’

21 耶和华领他们走过荒野的时候,他们并不干渴;

他为他们使水从盘石流出来。

他裂开盘石,水就涌出来。

22 耶和华说:‘恶人没有平安。’”

顽梗的以色列

48 “雅各家啊,听我说!
你们被称为以色列人,是犹大的子孙,
凭耶和华的名起誓、
呼求以色列的上帝,
却不真心诚意。
你们还自称为圣城的人,
声称倚靠名为万军之耶和华的以色列的上帝。

“过去所发生的事,
我很久以前就预言过、
亲口宣告过,
然后使它们瞬间发生。
我知道你顽梗,
有铁一般的颈项,
铜一般的额头。
所以,在很久以前,
事情还没有发生时就向你预言这些事,
免得你说这些是你的偶像做的,
是你雕刻和铸造的偶像命定的。

“你已经听见了,看看这一切,
难道你还不承认吗?
现在我要把新事,把你不知道的隐秘事告诉你。
这些事过去没有,现在才有,
在今天以前你从未听过,
免得你说,‘这些事我早就知道了。’
你不知道这些事,
甚至闻所未闻。
我知道你生性诡诈,
你自出母胎就被称为悖逆之徒。

“我为了我的名,暂时忍怒;
我为了我的荣耀,压住怒气,
不消灭你。
10 看啊,我熬炼你,但不像在火炉中炼银子,
我是在苦难的炉中熬炼你。
11 我这样做是为了自己,
我岂能让自己的名受亵渎,
把自己的荣耀给别人?
12 雅各,我所拣选的以色列啊,
听我说!
我是上帝,我是首先的,
也是末后的。
13 我亲手奠立大地的根基,
我的右手铺展穹苍。
我一呼唤,它们都侍立一旁。

14 “你们一起来听吧。
假神中有谁曾预言过这些事?
耶和华所拣选的人必成就祂的旨意,
他的臂膀必攻击迦勒底人。
15 唯有我说过这些事;
我召了他,领他出来;
他必一路亨通。
16 你们到我跟前来听吧。
我一开始就没有暗地里说话,
事情发生的时候,我就在场。”
现在主耶和华差遣我和祂的灵来。
17 你的救赎主耶和华——以色列的圣者说:
“我是你的上帝耶和华,
我为了使你受益而教导你,
我引导你走当行的路。
18 真希望你当时肯听我的命令!
那样,你的平安必像滚滚河水,
你的公义必如滔滔海浪;
19 你的后裔必多如海沙,
你的子孙必像细沙一样不可胜数,
他们的名号绝不会从我面前被铲除、被消灭。”

20 你们要离开巴比伦,
从迦勒底人那里逃出来。
你们要高声欢呼,向普天下传扬、宣告:
“耶和华救赎了祂的仆人雅各!”
21 耶和华带领他们经过沙漠,
他们也不会口渴。
为了他们,
祂使水从磐石中流出,祂使磐石裂开、涌出水来。
22 耶和华说:“恶人得不到平安。”

48 Hear ye this, O Bais Ya’akov, which are called b’shem Yisroel, and are come forth out of the waters of Yehudah, which take oaths b’Shem Hashem, and invoke Elohei Yisroel, but not in emes, nor in tzedakah.

For they call themselves of the Ir HaKodesh, and lean themselves upon Elohei Yisroel; Hashem Tzva’os Shmo.

I have declared the rishonot (former things) from long ago; and they went forth out of My mouth, and I made them known; I acted pitom (suddenly), and they came to pass.

Because I knew that thou art kesheh (obstinate, stubborn) and thy oref (neck) is sinew of barzel (iron), and thy metzach (brow, forehead) bronze;

I have even from long ago preached it to thee; before it came to pass I caused thee to hear it; lest thou shouldest say, Mine atzav (idol) hath done them, and my pesel, and my nesech (molten idol, metal image) hath commanded them.

Thou hast heard, look at all this; and will not ye preach it? I have caused thee to hear chadashot (new things) from this time, even netzurot (hidden things) and thou didst not know them.

Now they are created, and not from long ago; before today thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Hinei, I knew them.

Thou heardest not; thou had no da’as; from of old, thine ozen (ear) was not opened; for I knew that thou wouldest deal as a boged (treacherous betrayer), and thou wast called a poshei’a (rebel, transgressor) from the beten (womb, i.e., birth; See Ps 51:5).

Lema’an Shmi (for the sake of My Name) will I defer Mine anger, and for My tehillah (praise) will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

10 Hinei, I have refined thee, but not as kesef; I have chosen thee in the furnace of oni (affliction).

11 For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake will I do it; for how can I allow Chillul Hashem? And I will not give My kavod unto another.

12 Pay heed unto Me, O Ya’akov and Yisroel, My called; I am He; I am Rishon, I also am Acharon.

13 Mine Yad also hath laid the foundation of Eretz, and My yamin hath measured Shomayim; when I call them, they stand up together.

14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and listen. Which among them [the pesilim, idols] hath declared these things? Hashem hath loved him [i.e., Cyrus], he will do His chafetz (pleasure, will) on Babylon, and His zero’a shall be on the Kasdim (Chaldeans).

15 I, even I, have spoken; indeed, I have called him [i.e., Cyrus]; I have brought him, and He shall make his derech successful.

16 Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken baseter (in secret) merosh (from the first); from the time that it takes place, there am I; and now Adonoi Hashem, and His Ruach [Hakodesh], hath sent Me [Moshiach, the Eved Hashem; see Isaiah 42:1; see Hashem’s Kedushah HaMeshulleshet here].

17 Thus saith Hashem, thy Go’el, the Kadosh Yisroel; I am Hashem Eloheicha thy Melamed (Teacher) of doing that which profiteth, thy Madrikh (Guide, Instructor) in the Derech that thou shouldest go.

18 O if only thou hadst paid heed to My mitzvot! Then had thy shalom been like a nahar, and thy tzedakah as the waves of the yam;

19 Thy zera also had been like the chol (sand), and those that come out of thy loins like me’otav (sands of the sea thereof); his shem should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before Me.

20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Kasdim (Chaldeans), with a voice of joyful singing declare ye, preach this, send it forth even to the ketzeh ha’aretz; say ye, Hashem hath redeemed His Eved Ya’akov.

21 And they thirsted not when He led them through the deserts; He caused the mayim to flow out of the Tzur for them; He split the Tzur also, and the mayim gushed out.

22 There is no shalom, saith Hashem, unto the resha’im.

48 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is his name.

I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.

Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.

They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.

Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.

13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.

14 All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The Lord hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

17 Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

19 Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.

20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The Lord hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

Stubborn Israel

48 “Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob,
    you who are called by the name of Israel(A)
    and come from the line of Judah,(B)
you who take oaths(C) in the name of the Lord(D)
    and invoke(E) the God of Israel—
    but not in truth(F) or righteousness—
you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city(G)
    and claim to rely(H) on the God of Israel—
    the Lord Almighty is his name:(I)
I foretold the former things(J) long ago,
    my mouth announced(K) them and I made them known;
    then suddenly(L) I acted, and they came to pass.
For I knew how stubborn(M) you were;
    your neck muscles(N) were iron,
    your forehead(O) was bronze.
Therefore I told you these things long ago;
    before they happened I announced(P) them to you
so that you could not say,
    ‘My images brought them about;(Q)
    my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’
You have heard these things; look at them all.
    Will you not admit them?

“From now on I will tell you of new things,(R)
    of hidden things unknown to you.
They are created(S) now, and not long ago;(T)
    you have not heard of them before today.
So you cannot say,
    ‘Yes, I knew(U) of them.’
You have neither heard nor understood;(V)
    from of old your ears(W) have not been open.
Well do I know how treacherous(X) you are;
    you were called a rebel(Y) from birth.
For my own name’s sake(Z) I delay my wrath;(AA)
    for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,
    so as not to destroy you completely.(AB)
10 See, I have refined(AC) you, though not as silver;
    I have tested(AD) you in the furnace(AE) of affliction.
11 For my own sake,(AF) for my own sake, I do this.
    How can I let myself be defamed?(AG)
    I will not yield my glory to another.(AH)

Israel Freed

12 “Listen(AI) to me, Jacob,
    Israel, whom I have called:(AJ)
I am he;(AK)
    I am the first and I am the last.(AL)
13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,(AM)
    and my right hand spread out the heavens;(AN)
when I summon them,
    they all stand up together.(AO)

14 “Come together,(AP) all of you, and listen:
    Which of the idols has foretold(AQ) these things?
The Lord’s chosen ally(AR)
    will carry out his purpose(AS) against Babylon;(AT)
    his arm will be against the Babylonians.[a]
15 I, even I, have spoken;
    yes, I have called(AU) him.
I will bring him,
    and he will succeed(AV) in his mission.

16 “Come near(AW) me and listen(AX) to this:

“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;(AY)
    at the time it happens, I am there.”

And now the Sovereign Lord(AZ) has sent(BA) me,
    endowed with his Spirit.(BB)

17 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(BC) the Holy One(BD) of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
    who teaches(BE) you what is best for you,
    who directs(BF) you in the way(BG) you should go.
18 If only you had paid attention(BH) to my commands,
    your peace(BI) would have been like a river,(BJ)
    your well-being(BK) like the waves of the sea.
19 Your descendants(BL) would have been like the sand,(BM)
    your children like its numberless grains;(BN)
their name would never be blotted out(BO)
    nor destroyed from before me.”

20 Leave Babylon,
    flee(BP) from the Babylonians!
Announce this with shouts of joy(BQ)
    and proclaim it.
Send it out to the ends of the earth;(BR)
    say, “The Lord has redeemed(BS) his servant Jacob.”
21 They did not thirst(BT) when he led them through the deserts;
    he made water flow(BU) for them from the rock;
he split the rock
    and water gushed out.(BV)

22 “There is no peace,”(BW) says the Lord, “for the wicked.”(BX)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 48:14 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 20