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The Lord Saves Israel

43 Family of Jacob, the Lord created you.
    People of Israel, he formed you.
He says, “Do not be afraid.
    I will set you free.
I will send for you by name.
    You belong to me.
You will pass through deep waters.
    But I will be with you.
You will pass through the rivers.
    But their waters will not sweep over you.
You will walk through fire.
    But you will not be burned.
    The flames will not harm you.
I am the Lord your God.
    I am the Holy One of Israel.
    I am the one who saves you.
I will give up Egypt to set you free.
    I will give up Cush and Seba for you.
You are priceless to me.
    I love you and honor you.
So I will trade other people for you.
    I will give up other nations to save your lives.
Do not be afraid. I am with you.
    I will bring your people back from the east.
    I will gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, ‘Let them go!’
    And I will say to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from far away.
    Bring my daughters from the farthest places on earth.
Bring back everyone who belongs to me.
    I created them to bring glory to me.
    I formed them and made them.”

Lead my people into court.
    They have eyes but can’t see.
    Bring those who have ears but can’t hear.
All the nations are gathering together.
    All of them are coming.
Which one of their gods said ahead of time
    that the people of Israel would return?
    Which of them told us anything at all about the past?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right.
    Then others will hear them. And they will say,
    “What they said is true.”
10 “People of Israel, you are my witnesses,” announces the Lord.
    “I have chosen you to be my servant.
I wanted you to know me and believe in me.
    I wanted you to understand that I am the one and only God.
Before me, there was no other god at all.
    And there will not be any god after me.
11 I am the one and only Lord.
    I am the only one who can save you.
12 I have made known what would happen.
    I saved you. I have told you about it.
I did this. It was not some other god you worship.
    You are my witnesses that I am God,” announces the Lord.
13 “And that is not all! I have always been God,
    and I always will be.
No one can save people from my power.
    When I do something, who can undo it?”

The Lord Is Full of Mercy but Israel Is Unfaithful

14 The Lord sets his people free.
    He is the Holy One of Israel. He says,
“People of Israel, I will send an army to Babylon to save you.
    I will cause all the Babylonians to run away.
    They will try to escape in the ships they were so proud of.
15 I am your Lord and King.
    I am your Holy One.
    I created you.”

16 Long ago the Lord opened
    a way for his people to go through the Red Sea.
    He made a path through the mighty waters.
17 He caused Egypt to send out its chariots and horses.
    He sent its entire army to its death.
Its soldiers lay down there.
    They never got up again.
    They were destroyed.
They were blown out like a dimly burning flame.
    But the Lord says,
18 “Forget the things that happened in the past.
    Do not keep on thinking about them.
19 I am about to do something new.
    It is beginning to happen even now.
    Don’t you see it coming?
I am going to make a way for you to go through the desert.
    I will make streams of water in the dry and empty land.
20 Even wild dogs and owls honor me.
    That is because I provide water in the desert
    for my people to drink.
I cause streams to flow in the dry and empty land
    for my chosen ones.
21 I do it for the people I made for myself.
    I want them to sing praise to me.

22 “Family of Jacob, you have not prayed to me as you should.
    People of Israel, you have not worn yourselves out for me.
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings.
    You have not honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not loaded you down
    by requiring grain offerings.
I have not made you tired
    by requiring you to burn incense.
24 But you have not bought any sweet-smelling cane for me.
    You have not given me the fattest parts
    of your animal sacrifices.
Instead, you have loaded me down with your sins.
    You have made me tired with the wrong things you have done.

25 “I am the one who wipes out your lawless acts.
    I do it because of who I am.
    I will not remember your sins anymore.
26 But let us go to court together.
    Remind me of what you have done.
State your case.
    Prove to me that you are not guilty.
27 Your father Jacob sinned.
    The people I sent to teach you refused to obey me.
28 So I put the high officials of your temple to shame.
    I let Jacob’s family be totally destroyed.
    And I let people make fun of Israel.

The Lord Chooses Israel

44 “Family of Jacob, listen to me. You are my servant.
    People of Israel, I have chosen you.
I made you. I formed you when you were born as a nation.
    I will help you.
    So listen to what I am saying.
Family of Jacob, do not be afraid. You are my servant.
    People of Israel, I have chosen you.
I will pour out water on the thirsty land.
    I will make streams flow on the dry ground.
I will pour out my Spirit on your children.
    I will pour out my blessing on their children after them.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow.
    They will grow like poplar trees near flowing streams.
Some will say, ‘We belong to the Lord.’
    Others will call themselves by Jacob’s name.
Still others will write on their hands,
    ‘We belong to the Lord.’
    And they will be called by the name of Israel.

Worship the Lord, Not False Gods

“I am Israel’s King. I set them free.
    I am the Lord who rules over all.
    So listen to what I am saying.
I am the first and the last.
    I am the one and only God.
Who is like me? Let him come forward and speak boldly.
    Let him tell me everything that has happened
    since I created my people long ago.
And let him tell me what has not happened yet.
    Let him announce ahead of time what is going to take place.
Do not tremble with fear. Do not be afraid.
    Didn’t I announce everything that has happened?
    Didn’t I tell you about it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any other God but me?
    No! There is no other Rock. I do not know even one.”

Those who make statues of gods don’t amount to anything.
    And the statues they think so much of are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind.
    They don’t know anything.
    So they will be put to shame.
10 People make statues of gods.
    But those gods can’t do any good.
11 People who do that will be put to shame.
    Those who make statues of gods are mere human beings.
Let all of them come together and state their case.
    They will be terrified and put to shame.

12 A blacksmith gets his tool.
    He uses it to shape metal over the burning coals.
He uses his hammers to make a statue of a god.
    He forms it with his powerful arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength.
    He doesn’t drink any water.
    He gets weaker and weaker.
13 A carpenter measures a piece of wood with a line.
    He draws a pattern on it with a marker.
He cuts out a statue with sharp tools.
    He marks it with compasses.
He shapes it into the form of a beautiful human being.
    He does this so he can put it in a temple.
14 He cuts down a cedar tree.
    Or perhaps he takes a cypress or an oak tree.
It might be a tree that grew in the forest.
    Or it might be a pine tree he planted.
    And the rain made it grow.
15 A man gets wood from trees to burn.
    He uses some of it to warm himself.
    He starts a fire and bakes bread.
But he also uses some of it to make a god and worship it.
    He makes a statue of a god and bows down to it.
16 He burns half of the wood in the fire.
    He prepares a meal over it.
He cooks meat over it.
    He eats until he is full.
He also warms himself. He says,
    “Good! I’m getting warm.
    The fire is nice and hot.”
17 From the rest of the wood he makes a statue.
    It becomes his god.
    He bows down and worships it.
He prays to it. He says,
    “Save me! You are my god!”
18 People like that don’t even know what they are doing.
    Their eyes are shut so that they can’t see the truth.
    Their minds are closed so that they can’t understand it.
19 No one even stops to think about this.
    No one has any sense or understanding.
    If anyone did, they would say,
“I used half of the wood for fuel.
    I even baked bread over the fire.
    I cooked meat. Then I ate it.
Should I now make a statue of a god
    out of the wood that’s left over?
Should I bow down to a block of wood?
    The Lord would hate that.”
20 That’s as foolish as eating ashes!
    The mind of someone like that
    has led him astray.
He can’t save himself.
    He can’t bring himself to say,
“This thing I’m holding in my right hand
    isn’t really a god at all.”

21 The Lord says, “Family of Jacob, remember these things.
    People of Israel, you are my servant.
I have made you. You are my servant.
    Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I will sweep your sins away as if they were a cloud.
    I will blow them away as if they were the morning mist.
Return to me.
    Then I will set you free.”

23 Sing for joy, you heavens!
    The Lord does wonderful things.
Shout out loud, you earth!
    Burst into song, you mountains!
    Sing, you forests and all your trees!
The Lord sets the family of Jacob free.
    He shows his glory in Israel.

People Will Live in Jerusalem Again

24 The Lord says,
    “People of Israel, I set you free.
    I formed you when you were born as a nation.

“I am the Lord. I am the Maker of everything.
    I alone stretch out the heavens.
    I spread out the earth by myself.

25 “Some prophets are not really prophets at all.
    I show that their signs are fake.
    I make those who practice evil magic look foolish.
I destroy the learning of those who think they are wise.
    Their knowledge does not make any sense at all.
26 I make the words of my servants the prophets come true.
    I carry out what my messengers say will happen.

“I say about Jerusalem,
    ‘My people will live there again.’
I say about the towns of Judah,
    ‘They will be rebuilt.’
I say about their broken-down buildings,
    ‘I will make them like new again.’
27 I say to the deep waters,
    ‘Dry up. Let your streams become dry.’
28 I say about Cyrus,
    ‘He is my shepherd.
    He will accomplish everything I want him to.
He will say about Jerusalem,
    “Let it be rebuilt.”
And he will say about the temple,
    “Let its foundations be laid.” ’

45 “Cyrus is my anointed king.
    I take hold of his right hand.
I give him the power
    to bring nations under his control.
I help him strip kings of their power
    to go to war against him.
I break city gates open so he can go through them.
    I say to him,
‘I will march out ahead of you.
    I will make the mountains level.
I will break down bronze gates.
    I will cut through their heavy iron bars.
I will give you treasures that are hidden away.
    I will give you riches that are stored up in secret places.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.
    I am the God of Israel.
    I am sending for you by name.
Cyrus, I am sending for you by name.
    I am doing it for the good of the family of Jacob.
    They are my servant.
I am doing it for Israel.
    They are my chosen people.
You do not know anything about me.
    But I am giving you a title of honor.
I am the Lord. There is no other Lord.
    I am the one and only God.
You do not know anything about me.
    But I will make you strong.
Then people will know there is no God but me.
    Everyone from where the sun rises in the east
    to where it sets in the west will know it.
I am the Lord.
    There is no other Lord.
I cause light to shine. I also create darkness.
    I bring good times. I also create hard times.
    I do all these things. I am the Lord.

“ ‘Rain down my godliness, you heavens above.
    Let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide to receive it.
    Let freedom spring to life.
Let godliness grow richly along with it.
    I have created all these things.
    I am the Lord.’ ”

How terrible it will be for anyone who argues with their Maker!
    They are like a broken piece of pottery lying on the ground.
Does clay say to a potter,
    “What are you making?”
Does a pot say,
    “The potter doesn’t have any skill”?
10 How terrible it will be for anyone who says to a father,
    “Why did you give me life?”
How terrible for anyone who says to a mother,
    “Why have you brought me into the world?”

11 The Lord is the Holy One of Israel.
    He made them.
He says to them,
    “Are you asking me about what will happen to my children?
    Are you telling me what I should do with what my hands have made?
12 I made the earth.
    I created human beings to live there.
My own hands spread out the heavens.
    I put all the stars in their places.
13 I will stir up Cyrus and help him win his battles.
    I will make all his roads straight.
He will rebuild Jerusalem.
    My people have been taken away from their country.
    But he will set them free.
I will not pay him to do it.
    He will not receive a reward for it,”
    says the Lord who rules over all.

14 The Lord says to the people of Jerusalem,

“You will get everything Egypt produces.
    You will receive everything the people of Cush
and the tall Sabeans get in trade.
    All of it will belong to you.
And all these people will walk behind you as slaves.
    They will be put in chains and come over to you.
They will bow down to you.
    They will admit,
‘God is with you.
    There is no other God.’ ”

15 You are a God who has been hiding yourself.
    You are the God of Israel. You save us.
16 All those who make statues of gods will be put to shame.
    They will be dishonored.
    They will be led away in shame together.
17 But the Lord will save Israel.
    He will save them forever.
They will never be put to shame or dishonored.
    That will be true for all time to come.

18 The Lord created the heavens.
    He is God.
He formed the earth and made it.
    He set it firmly in place.
He didn’t create it to be empty.
    Instead, he formed it for people to live on.
He says, “I am the Lord.
    There is no other Lord.
19 I have not spoken in secret.
    I have not spoken from a dark place.
I have not said to Jacob’s people,
    ‘It is useless to look for me.’
I am the Lord. I always speak the truth.
    I always say what is right.

20 “Come together, you people of the nations
    who escaped from Babylon.
    Gather together and come into court.
Only people who do not know anything
    would carry around gods that are made out of wood.
    They pray to false gods that can’t save them.
21 Tell me what will happen. State your case.
    Talk it over together.
Who spoke long ago about what would happen?
    Who said it a long time ago?
I did. I am the Lord.
    I am the one and only God.
I always do what is right.
    I am the one who saves.
    There is no God but me.

22 “All you who live anywhere on earth,
    turn to me and be saved.
    I am God. There is no other God.
23 I have made a promise in my own name.
    I have spoken with complete honesty.
    I will not take back a single word. I said,
‘Everyone will kneel down to me.
    Everyone’s mouth will make promises in my name.’
24 They will say, ‘The Lord is the only one who can save us.
    Only he can make us strong.’ ”
All those who have been angry with the Lord will come to him.
    And they will be put to shame.
25 But the Lord will save all the people of Israel.
    And so they will boast about the Lord.

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created(A) you, Jacob,
    he who formed(B) you, Israel:(C)
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed(D) you;
    I have summoned you by name;(E) you are mine.(F)
When you pass through the waters,(G)
    I will be with you;(H)
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,(I)
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.(J)
For I am the Lord your God,(K)
    the Holy One(L) of Israel, your Savior;(M)
I give Egypt(N) for your ransom,
    Cush[a](O) and Seba(P) in your stead.(Q)
Since you are precious and honored(R) in my sight,
    and because I love(S) you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid,(T) for I am with you;(U)
    I will bring your children(V) from the east
    and gather(W) you from the west.(X)
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south,(Y) ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters(Z) from the ends of the earth(AA)
everyone who is called by my name,(AB)
    whom I created(AC) for my glory,(AD)
    whom I formed and made.(AE)

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,(AF)
    who have ears but are deaf.(AG)
All the nations gather together(AH)
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold(AI) 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,(AJ)” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant(AK) whom I have chosen,
so that you may know(AL) and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god(AM) was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.(AN)
11 I, even I, am the Lord,(AO)
    and apart from me there is no savior.(AP)
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god(AQ) among you.
You are my witnesses,(AR)” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13     Yes, and from ancient days(AS) I am he.(AT)
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”(AU)

God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

14 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(AV) the Holy One(AW) of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and bring down as fugitives(AX) all the Babylonians,[b](AY)
    in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord,(AZ) your Holy One,
    Israel’s Creator,(BA) your King.(BB)

16 This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,(BC)
17 who drew out(BD) the chariots and horses,(BE)
    the army and reinforcements together,(BF)
and they lay(BG) there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:(BH)
18 “Forget the former things;(BI)
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!(BJ)
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness(BK)
    and streams in the wasteland.(BL)
20 The wild animals(BM) honor me,
    the jackals(BN) and the owls,
because I provide water(BO) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people I formed(BP) for myself(BQ)
    that they may proclaim my praise.(BR)

22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied(BS) yourselves for[c] me, Israel.(BT)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,(BU)
    nor honored(BV) me with your sacrifices.(BW)
I have not burdened(BX) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands(BY) for incense.(BZ)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus(CA) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat(CB) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied(CC) me with your offenses.(CD)

25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,(CE) for my own sake,(CF)
    and remembers your sins(CG) no more.(CH)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;(CI)
    state the case(CJ) for your innocence.
27 Your first father(CK) sinned;
    those I sent to teach(CL) you rebelled(CM) against me.
28 So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction[d](CN)
    and Israel to scorn.(CO)

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,(CP)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.(CQ)
This is what the Lord says—
    he who made(CR) you, who formed you in the womb,(CS)
    and who will help(CT) you:
Do not be afraid,(CU) Jacob, my servant,(CV)
    Jeshurun,[e](CW) whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water(CX) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;(CY)
I will pour out my Spirit(CZ) on your offspring,
    and my blessing(DA) on your descendants.(DB)
They will spring up like grass(DC) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees(DD) by flowing streams.(DE)
Some will say, ‘I belong(DF) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,(DG) ‘The Lord’s,’(DH)
    and will take the name Israel.

The Lord, Not Idols

“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King(DI) and Redeemer,(DJ) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;(DK)
    apart from me there is no God.(DL)
Who then is like me?(DM) Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
    and what is yet to come—
    yes, let them foretell(DN) what will come.
Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim(DO) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God(DP) besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock;(DQ) I know not one.”

All who make idols(DR) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.(DS)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;(DT)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.(DU)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,(DV)
    which can profit nothing?(DW)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;(DX)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.(DY)

12 The blacksmith(DZ) 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.(EA)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.(EB)
13 The carpenter(EC) 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,(ED)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.(EE)
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,(EF) and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel(EG) 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(EH) it;
    he makes an idol and bows(EI) 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.(EJ)
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.(EK)
He prays(EL) to it and says,
    “Save(EM) me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand(EN) nothing;
    their eyes(EO) 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(EP) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(EQ)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(ER) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(ES)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(ET) a deluded(EU) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(EV)

21 “Remember(EW) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.(EX)
I have made you, you are my servant;(EY)
    Israel, I will not forget you.(EZ)
22 I have swept away(FA) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return(FB) to me,
    for I have redeemed(FC) you.”

23 Sing for joy,(FD) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth(FE) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,(FF)
    you forests and all your trees,(FG)
for the Lord has redeemed(FH) Jacob,
    he displays his glory(FI) in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

24 “This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(FJ) who formed(FK) you in the womb:(FL)

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,(FM)
    who spreads out the earth(FN) by myself,
25 who foils(FO) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,(FP)
who overthrows the learning of the wise(FQ)
    and turns it into nonsense,(FR)
26 who carries out the words(FS) of his servants
    and fulfills(FT) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,(FU) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,(FV) ‘I will restore them,’(FW)
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up(FX) your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus,(FY) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,(FZ) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,(GA) “Let its foundations(GB) be laid.”’

45 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed,(GC)
    to Cyrus,(GD) whose right hand I take hold(GE) of
to subdue nations(GF) before him
    and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
    so that gates will not be shut:
I will go before you(GG)
    and will level(GH) the mountains[f];
I will break down gates(GI) of bronze
    and cut through bars of iron.(GJ)
I will give you hidden treasures,(GK)
    riches stored in secret places,(GL)
so that you may know(GM) that I am the Lord,
    the God of Israel, who summons you by name.(GN)
For the sake of Jacob my servant,(GO)
    of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
    and bestow on you a title of honor,
    though you do not acknowledge(GP) me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;(GQ)
    apart from me there is no God.(GR)
I will strengthen you,(GS)
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting(GT)
people may know(GU) there is none besides me.(GV)
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,(GW)
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;(GX)
    I, the Lord, do all these things.

“You heavens above, rain(GY) down my righteousness;(GZ)
    let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
    let salvation(HA) spring up,
let righteousness flourish with it;
    I, the Lord, have created it.

“Woe to those who quarrel(HB) with their Maker,(HC)
    those who are nothing but potsherds(HD)
    among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,(HE)
    ‘What are you making?’(HF)
Does your work say,
    ‘The potter has no hands’?(HG)
10 Woe to the one who says to a father,
    ‘What have you begotten?’
or to a mother,
    ‘What have you brought to birth?’

11 “This is what the Lord says—
    the Holy One(HH) of Israel, and its Maker:(HI)
Concerning things to come,
    do you question me about my children,
    or give me orders about the work of my hands?(HJ)
12 It is I who made the earth(HK)
    and created mankind on it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;(HL)
    I marshaled their starry hosts.(HM)
13 I will raise up Cyrus[g](HN) in my righteousness:
    I will make all his ways straight.(HO)
He will rebuild my city(HP)
    and set my exiles free,
but not for a price or reward,(HQ)
    says the Lord Almighty.”

14 This is what the Lord says:

“The products(HR) of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,[h]
    and those tall Sabeans(HS)
they will come over to you(HT)
    and will be yours;
they will trudge behind you,(HU)
    coming over to you in chains.(HV)
They will bow down before you
    and plead(HW) with you, saying,
‘Surely God is with you,(HX) and there is no other;
    there is no other god.(HY)’”

15 Truly you are a God who has been hiding(HZ) himself,
    the God and Savior(IA) of Israel.
16 All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgraced;(IB)
    they will go off into disgrace together.
17 But Israel will be saved(IC) by the Lord
    with an everlasting salvation;(ID)
you will never be put to shame or disgraced,(IE)
    to ages everlasting.

18 For this is what the Lord says—
he who created the heavens,
    he is God;
he who fashioned and made the earth,(IF)
    he founded it;
he did not create it to be empty,(IG)
    but formed it to be inhabited(IH)
he says:
“I am the Lord,
    and there is no other.(II)
19 I have not spoken in secret,(IJ)
    from somewhere in a land of darkness;(IK)
I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,(IL)
    ‘Seek(IM) me in vain.’
I, the Lord, speak the truth;
    I declare what is right.(IN)

20 “Gather together(IO) and come;
    assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant(IP) are those who carry(IQ) about idols of wood,
    who pray to gods that cannot save.(IR)
21 Declare what is to be, present it—
    let them take counsel together.
Who foretold(IS) this long ago,
    who declared it from the distant past?(IT)
Was it not I, the Lord?
    And there is no God apart from me,(IU)
a righteous God(IV) and a Savior;(IW)
    there is none but me.

22 “Turn(IX) to me and be saved,(IY)
    all you ends of the earth;(IZ)
    for I am God, and there is no other.(JA)
23 By myself I have sworn,(JB)
    my mouth has uttered in all integrity(JC)
    a word that will not be revoked:(JD)
Before me every knee will bow;(JE)
    by me every tongue will swear.(JF)
24 They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone
    are deliverance(JG) and strength.(JH)’”
All who have raged against him
    will come to him and be put to shame.(JI)
25 But all the descendants(JJ) of Israel
    will find deliverance(JK) in the Lord
    and will make their boast in him.(JL)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:3 That is, the upper Nile region
  2. Isaiah 43:14 Or Chaldeans
  3. Isaiah 43:22 Or Jacob; / surely you have grown weary of
  4. Isaiah 43:28 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  5. Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.
  6. Isaiah 45:2 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
  7. Isaiah 45:13 Hebrew him
  8. Isaiah 45:14 That is, the upper Nile region