²¹     the people I formed^(A) for myself^(B)
    that they may proclaim my praise.^(C)

²² “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied^(D) yourselves for^[a] me, Israel.^(E)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,^(F)
    nor honored^(G) me with your sacrifices.^(H)
I have not burdened^(I) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands^(J) for incense.^(K)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus^(L) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat^(M) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied^(N) me with your offenses.^(O)

²⁵ “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,^(P) for my own sake,^(Q)
    and remembers your sins^(R) no more.^(S)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;^(T)
    state the case^(U) for your innocence.
²⁷ Your first father^(V) sinned;
    those I sent to teach^(W) you rebelled^(X) against me.
²⁸ So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction^[b](Y)
    and Israel to scorn.^(Z)

⁹ All who make idols^(BC) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(BD)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(BE)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(BF)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(BG)
    which can profit nothing?^(BH)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;^(BI)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(BJ)

¹² The blacksmith^(BK) 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.^(BL)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(BM)
13 The carpenter^(BN) 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,^(BO)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(BP)
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,^(BQ) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵ It is used as fuel^(BR) 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^(BS) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(BT) 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.^(BU)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(BV)
He prays^(BW) to it and says,
    “Save^(BX) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(BY) nothing;
    their eyes^(BZ) 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^(CA) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(CB)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(CC) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(CD)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(CE) a deluded^(CF) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(CG)”

²¹ “Remember^(CH) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.^(CI)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(CJ)
    Israel, I will not forget you.^(CK)
22 I have swept away^(CL) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(CM) to me,
    for I have redeemed^(CN) you.”

²³ Sing for joy,^(CO) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth^(CP) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,^(CQ)
    you forests and all your trees,^(CR)
for the Lord has redeemed^(CS) Jacob,
    he displays his glory^(CT) in Israel.