⁵ This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,^(P) who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth^(Q) with all that springs from it,^(R)
    who gives breath^(S) to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
⁶ “I, the Lord, have called^(T) you in righteousness;^(U)
    I will take hold of your hand.^(V)
I will keep^(W) you and will make you
    to be a covenant^(X) for the people
    and a light^(Y) for the Gentiles,^(Z)
7 to open eyes that are blind,^(AA)
    to free^(AB) captives from prison^(AC)
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.^(AD)

⁸ “I am the Lord;^(AE) that is my name!^(AF)
    I will not yield my glory to another^(AG)
    or my praise to idols.^(AH)
9 See, the former things^(AI) have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce^(AJ) them to you.”

¹⁴ “For a long time I have kept silent,^(BC)
    I have been quiet and held myself back.^(BD)
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
    I cry out, I gasp and pant.^(BE)
15 I will lay waste^(BF) the mountains^(BG) and hills
    and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
    and dry up^(BH) the pools.
¹⁶ I will lead^(BI) the blind^(BJ) by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light^(BK) before them
    and make the rough places smooth.^(BL)
These are the things I will do;
    I will not forsake^(BM) them.
¹⁷ But those who trust in idols,
    who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’^(BN)
    will be turned back in utter shame.^(BO)

²³ Which of you will listen to this
    or pay close attention^(CB) in time to come?
²⁴ Who handed Jacob over to become loot,
    and Israel to the plunderers?^(CC)
Was it not the Lord,^(CD)
    against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow^(CE) his ways;
    they did not obey his law.^(CF)
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,^(CG)
    the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames,^(CH) yet they did not understand;^(CI)
    it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.^(CJ)

⁸ Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,^(DP)
    who have ears but are deaf.^(DQ)
9 All the nations gather together^(DR)
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold^(DS) this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,^(DT)” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant^(DU) whom I have chosen,
so that you may know^(DV) and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god^(DW) was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.^(DX)
11 I, even I, am the Lord,^(DY)
    and apart from me there is no savior.^(DZ)
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god^(EA) among you.
You are my witnesses,^(EB)” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
¹³     Yes, and from ancient days^(EC) I am he.^(ED)
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”^(EE)

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,^(EM)
17 who drew out^(EN) the chariots and horses,^(EO)
    the army and reinforcements together,^(EP)
and they lay^(EQ) there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:^(ER)
18 “Forget the former things;^(ES)
    do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!^(ET)
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness^(EU)
    and streams in the wasteland.^(EV)
20 The wild animals^(EW) honor me,
    the jackals^(EX) and the owls,
because I provide water^(EY) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
²¹     the people I formed^(EZ) for myself^(FA)
    that they may proclaim my praise.^(FB)

²² “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied^(FC) yourselves for^[c] me, Israel.^(FD)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,^(FE)
    nor honored^(FF) me with your sacrifices.^(FG)
I have not burdened^(FH) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands^(FI) for incense.^(FJ)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus^(FK) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat^(FL) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied^(FM) me with your offenses.^(FN)

²⁵ “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,^(FO) for my own sake,^(FP)
    and remembers your sins^(FQ) no more.^(FR)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;^(FS)
    state the case^(FT) for your innocence.
²⁷ Your first father^(FU) sinned;
    those I sent to teach^(FV) you rebelled^(FW) against me.
²⁸ So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction^[d](FX)
    and Israel to scorn.^(FY)

20 Wine^(A) is a mocker^(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray^(C) by them is not wise.^(D)

² A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;^(E)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.^(F)

³ It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool^(G) is quick to quarrel.^(H)

⁴ Sluggards^(I) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.^(J)

⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,^(K)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

⁶ Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?^(L)

⁷ The righteous lead blameless lives;^(M)
    blessed are their children after them.^(N)

⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge,^(O)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.^(P)

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;^(Q)
    I am clean and without sin”?^(R)

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
    the Lord detests them both.^(S)

¹¹ Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure^(T) and upright?

¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.^(U)

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;^(V)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge^(W) if it is done for an outsider.^(X)

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,^(Y)
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.^(Z)

¹⁸ Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.^(AA)

¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;^(AB)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

²⁰ If someone curses their father or mother,^(AC)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.^(AD)

²¹ An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”^(AE)
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.^(AF)

²³ The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.^(AG)

²⁴ A person’s steps are directed^(AH) by the Lord.^(AI)
    How then can anyone understand their own way?^(AJ)

²⁵ It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.^(AK)

²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.^(AL)

²⁷ The human spirit is^[a] the lamp of the Lord^(AM)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.^(AN)

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love^(AO) his throne is made secure.^(AP)

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.^(AQ)

³⁰ Blows and wounds scrub^(AR) away evil,
    and beatings^(AS) purge the inmost being.