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43 But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob,
    and he who formed you, Israel, says:
“Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you.
    I have called you by your name.
    You are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
    and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned,
    and flame will not scorch you.
For I am Yahweh your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    your Savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
    Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Since you have been precious and honored in my sight,
    and I have loved you,
    therefore I will give people in your place,
    and nations instead of your life.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and gather you from the west.
I will tell the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back!
    Bring my sons from far away,
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
    and whom I have created for my glory,
    whom I have formed,
    yes, whom I have made.’”

Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
    and the deaf who have ears.
Let all the nations be gathered together,
    and let the peoples be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
    and show us former things?
Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified,
    or let them hear, and say, “That is true.”

10 “You are my witnesses,” says Yahweh,
    “With my servant whom I have chosen;
    that you may know and believe me,
    and understand that I am he.
Before me there was no God formed,
    neither will there be after me.
11 I myself am Yahweh.
    Besides me, there is no savior.
12 I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown,
    and there was no strange god among you.
Therefore you are my witnesses”,
    says Yahweh, “and I am God.
13 Yes, since the day was, I am he.
    There is no one who can deliver out of my hand.
    I will work, and who can hinder it?”

14 Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing. 15 I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16 Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea,

    and a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings out the chariot and horse,
    the army and the mighty man
    (they lie down together, they shall not rise;
    they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick) says:
18 “Don’t remember the former things,
    and don’t consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing.
    It springs out now.
    Don’t you know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
    and rivers in the desert.
20 The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honor me,
    because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert,
    to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people which I formed for myself,
    that they might declare my praise.

22 Yet you have not called on me, Jacob;
    but you have been weary of me, Israel.
23 You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings,
    neither have you honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
    nor wearied you with frankincense.
24 You have bought me no sweet cane with money,
    nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices,
but you have burdened me with your sins.
    You have wearied me with your iniquities.

25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake;
    and I will not remember your sins.
26 Put me in remembrance.
    Let us plead together.
Declare your case,
    that you may be justified.
27 Your first father sinned,
    and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary;
    and I will make Jacob a curse,
    and Israel an insult.”

Israel Redeemed

43 But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your (A)Creator, Jacob,
And He who (B)formed you, Israel:
“Do not (C)fear, for I have (D)redeemed you;
I have (E)called you by name; you are (F)Mine!
When you (G)pass through the waters, (H)I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you (I)walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.
For (J)I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your (K)Savior;
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
[a](L)Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Since you are (M)precious in My sight,
Since you are (N)honored and I (O)love you,
I will give other people in your place and other nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for (P)I am with you;
I will bring (Q)your offspring from the east,
And (R)gather you from the west.
I will say to the (S)north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My (T)sons from afar
And My daughters from the (U)ends of the earth,
Everyone who is (V)called by My name,
And whom I have (W)created for My (X)glory,
(Y)Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Israel Is God’s Witness

Bring out the people who are (Z)blind, even though they have eyes,
And those who are deaf, even though they have ears.
All the nations have (AA)gathered together
So that the peoples may be assembled.
Who among them can (AB)declare this
And proclaim to us the former things?
Let them present (AC)their witnesses so (AD)that they may be justified,
Or let them hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are (AE)My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“And (AF)My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that (AG)I am He.
(AH)Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me.
11 I, only I, am the Lord,
And there is no (AI)savior (AJ)besides Me.
12 It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,
And there was no (AK)strange god among you;
So you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“And I am God.
13 Even [b](AL)from eternity (AM)I am He,
And there is (AN)no one who can rescue from My hand;
(AO)I act, and who can reverse it?”

Babylon to Be Destroyed

14 This is what the Lord your (AP)Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:

“For your sake I have sent to Babylon,
And will bring them all down as fugitives,
[c]Even the (AQ)Chaldeans, into the (AR)ships [d]over which they rejoice.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
(AS)The Creator of Israel, your (AT)King.”

16 This is what the Lord says,

He who (AU)makes a way through the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
17 Who brings out the (AV)chariot and the horse,
The army and the mighty man
(They will lie down together and not rise again;
They have been (AW)extinguished, and have gone out like a wick):
18 (AX)Do not call to mind the former things,
Or consider things of the past.
19 Behold, I am going to do something (AY)new,
Now it will spring up;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even (AZ)make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
20 The animals of the field will glorify Me,
The (BA)jackals and the ostriches,
Because I have (BB)given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My chosen people.
21 The people whom (BC)I formed for Myself
(BD)Will declare My praise.

The Shortcomings of Israel

22 “Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;
But you have become (BE)weary of Me, Israel.
23 You have (BF)not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,
Nor have you (BG)honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not (BH)burdened you with [e]offerings,
Nor wearied you with (BI)incense.
24 You have not bought Me [f](BJ)sweet cane with money,
Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have (BK)wearied Me with your wrongdoings.

25 “I, I alone, am the one who (BL)wipes out your wrongdoings (BM)for My own sake,
And I will (BN)not remember your sins.
26 [g]Meet Me in court, (BO)let’s argue our case together;
State your cause, (BP)so that you may be proved right.
27 Your (BQ)first [h]forefather sinned,
And your [i](BR)spokesmen have rebelled against Me.
28 So I will profane the [j]officials of the sanctuary,
And I will turn Jacob over to (BS)destruction and Israel to (BT)abuse.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:3 Or Ethiopia
  2. Isaiah 43:13 As in LXX; MT from the day
  3. Isaiah 43:14 Another reading is As for the Chaldeans, their rejoicing is turned into mourning
  4. Isaiah 43:14 Lit of their rejoicing
  5. Isaiah 43:23 Or a meal offering
  6. Isaiah 43:24 Or calamus
  7. Isaiah 43:26 Or Report to Me
  8. Isaiah 43:27 Lit father
  9. Isaiah 43:27 Or interpreters
  10. Isaiah 43:28 Or holy princes