44 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:

Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Yahweh Blesses Chosen Israel

44 “But now hear, Jacob my servant,
    and Israel, whom I have chosen.
Thus says Yahweh, who made you,
    and who formed you in[a] the womb and will help you:
you must not fear, my servant Jacob,
    and Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
For I will pour out water on a thirsty land
    and streams on dry ground.
I will pour my spirit out on your descendants[b]
    and my blessing on your offspring.
And they shall sprout among[c] the grass
    like willows by a watercourse of water.
This one will say, ‘I belong to Yahweh!’
    And that one will be called by the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand ‘Yahweh’s’
    and take the name[d] of Israel.”

Yahweh the Only God

Thus says Yahweh, the king of Israel,
    and its redeemer, Yahweh of hosts:
“I am the first, and I am the last,
    and there is no god besides me.
And who is like me? Let him proclaim[e] it!
    And let him declare it and set it in order for me
since I established an eternal people[f] and things that are to come,
    and let them tell them the things that are coming.
You must not tremble,[g]
    and you must not be paralyzed with fear.
Have I not made you hear from of old[h]
    and declared it, and you are my witnesses?
Is there a god besides me?
    And there is no rock! I know none!”

Idolatry Is Ridiculous

All those who form an idol are nothing,
    and their delightful things do not profit.
And their witnesses do not see or know,
    so they will be ashamed.
10     Who would form a god
    and cast an image of which he cannot profit?
11 Look! all his companions shall be ashamed,
    and the artisans are human!
Let all of them assemble;
    let them stand up.
They shall tremble;[i]
    they shall be ashamed together.
12 The ironsmith[j] works in the coals with his tool
    and forms it with hammers.
And he makes it with his strong arm;[k]
    indeed, he becomes hungry, and he lacks[l] strength;
    he does not drink water, and he is faint.
13 The woodworker[m] stretches out a line;
    he makes an outline of it with a marker.
He makes it with a knife
    and makes an outline of it with a compass.
He makes it like the image of a man,
    like the beauty of a human, to dwell in a temple.[n]
14 Cutting down cedars for himself,
    he chooses[o] a holm tree and an oak,
and he lets it grow strong for him among the trees of the forest.
    He plants a cedar, and the rain makes it grow.
15 And it becomes fuel for a human,[p]
    and he takes some of it and grows warm;
    also, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
Also, he makes a god and bows in worship;
    he makes himself an image and bows down to it!
16 He burns half of it in the fire;
    he eats meat over half of it;
    he roasts a roast and is satisfied.
Also he grows warm and says, “Ah!
    I am warm! I see the fire!”
17 And he makes the remainder of it into a god!
    He bows down to his idol,
and he bows in worship and prays to him,
    and he says, “Save me, for you are my god!”
18 They do not know,
    and they do not understand,
for their eyes are besmeared so that they cannot see,[q]
    their minds[r] so that they have no insight.[s]
19 And no one takes it to heart,[t] and there is no knowledge
    and no understanding to say, “I burned half of it in the fire
and also I baked bread on its coals;
    I roasted meat, and I have eaten.
And I shall make the rest of it into an abomination!
    I shall bow down to a block of wood!”
20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived mind[u] misleads him.
    And he cannot save himself,[v] and he cannot say,
        “Is this not an illusion in my right hand?”

Yahweh Remembers Israel

21 “Remember these things, Jacob,
    and Israel, for you are my servant:
I formed you; you are my servant;
    Israel, you will not be forgotten by me!
22 I have wiped your transgressions out like a cloud
    and your sins like mist.
Return to me,
    for I have redeemed you!”
23 Sing for joy, heavens, for Yahweh has done it!
    Shout, depths of the earth!
Break forth, mountains, in rejoicing,
    forest and every tree in it,
for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob,
    and he will show his glory in Israel!

Jerusalem Restored through Cyrus

24 Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer,
    and he who formed you in[w] the womb:
“I am Yahweh, who made everything,
    who stretched out the heavens alone,
    who spread out the earth—who was with me?—
25 who frustrates[x] the signs of oracle priests
    and makes a fool of diviners,
who drives the wise men back
    and makes their knowledge foolish,
26 who keeps[y] the word of his servant
    and carries out the plan of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,
    and I will restore its ruins’;
27 who says to the deep, ‘Dry up!
    And I will cause your rivers to dry up’;
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd,’
    and he shall carry out all my wishes[z];
and saying of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be rebuilt,’
    and the temple, ‘It shall be founded.’”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:2 Or “from”
  2. Isaiah 44:3 Hebrew “descendant”
  3. Isaiah 44:4 Literally “in between”
  4. Isaiah 44:5 Literally “he will be titled by the name”
  5. Isaiah 44:7 Or “call”
  6. Isaiah 44:7 Literally “from my placing a people of eternity”
  7. Isaiah 44:8 Or “be startled”
  8. Isaiah 44:8 Or “then”
  9. Isaiah 44:11 Or “be startled”
  10. Isaiah 44:12 Literally “craftsman of iron”
  11. Isaiah 44:12 Literally “the arm of his strength”
  12. Isaiah 44:12 Literally “there is no”
  13. Isaiah 44:13 Literally “craftsman of wood”
  14. Isaiah 44:13 Or “house”
  15. Isaiah 44:14 Literally “takes”
  16. Isaiah 44:15 Literally “will become for a man as burning”
  17. Isaiah 44:18 Literally “from seeing”
  18. Isaiah 44:18 Literally “hearts”
  19. Isaiah 44:18 Literally “from having insight”
  20. Isaiah 44:19 Literally “he does not bring back to his heart”
  21. Isaiah 44:20 Literally “heart deceived”
  22. Isaiah 44:20 Literally “his soul”
  23. Isaiah 44:24 Or “from”
  24. Isaiah 44:25 Or “breaks”
  25. Isaiah 44:26 Or “erects”
  26. Isaiah 44:28 Hebrew “wish”

44 But now listen, my servant Jacob,
    Israel, whom I have chosen.
Yahweh made you, formed you in the womb, and will help you.

This is what Yahweh says:

Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,
    Jeshurun,[a] whom I have chosen.
I will pour water on thirsty ground and rain on dry land.
    I will pour my Ruach on your offspring
    and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up with the grass
    as poplars spring up by streams.
One person will say, “I belong to Yahweh.”
    Another will call on the name of Jacob.
        Another will write on his hand, “Yahweh’s,”
            and he will adopt the name of Israel.

The Nations Form Idols, But the Lord Formed Israel

Yahweh is Israel’s Melek and Go’el.
    He is Yahweh Tsebaoth.

This is what Yahweh says:

I am the first and the last,
    and there is no Elohim except me.
If there is anyone like me, let him say so.
    Let him tell me what happened
        when I established my people long ago.
    Then let him predict what will happen to them.
Don’t be terrified or afraid.
    Didn’t I make this known to you long ago?
        You are my witnesses.
            Is there any Elohim except me?
                There is no other rock; I know of none.

All who make idols are nothing. Their precious treasures are worthless. Their own witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame. 10 Nothing comes from making gods or casting metal idols. 11 Everyone associated with the gods will be put to shame. The craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all get together and take their stand. They will be frightened and ashamed together.

12 Blacksmiths shape iron into tools. They work them over the coals and shape them with hammers, working them with their strong arms. They get hungry, and their strength fails. If they don’t drink water, they will faint.

13 Carpenters measure blocks of wood with chalk lines. They mark them with pens. They carve them with chisels and mark them with compasses. They carve them into forms of people, beautiful people, so the idols can live in shrines.

14 They cut down cedars for themselves. Then they choose fir trees or oaks. They let them grow strong among the trees in the forest. Then they plant cedars, and the rain makes them grow. 15 These trees become fuel for people to burn. So they take some of them and warm themselves with them. They start fires and bake bread. They also make gods from these trees and worship them. They make them into carved statues and bow in front of them. 16 Half of the wood they burn in the fire. Over this half they roast meat that they can eat until they are full. They also warm themselves and say, “Ah! We are warm. We can see the fire!” 17 But the rest of the wood they make into gods, carved statues. They bow to them and worship them. They pray to them, saying, “Rescue us, because you are our gods.”

18 They don’t know or understand anything. Their eyes are plastered shut, so they can’t see. And their minds are closed, so they can’t understand. 19 No one stops to think. No one has enough knowledge or understanding to say, “I burned half of the wood in the fire. I also baked bread over its coals. I roasted meat and ate it. Now I am making the rest of the wood into a disgusting thing and bowing to a block of wood.” 20 They eat ashes because they are deceived. Their own misguided minds lead them astray. They can’t rescue themselves or ask themselves, “Isn’t what I hold in my right hand a false god?”

21 Remember these things, Jacob:
    You are my servant, Israel.
        I formed you; you are my servant.
            Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud
    and your sins like the morning mist.
    Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you.

23 Sing with joy, you heavens, because Yahweh has done this.
    Rejoice, you deep places of the earth.
    Break into shouts of joy, you mountains,
    you forests and every tree in them.
        Yahweh has reclaimed Jacob.
            He will display his glory in Israel.

Through Cyrus the Lord Will Set Israel Free

24 Yahweh reclaimed you.
    He formed you in the womb.

This is what Yahweh says:

I, Yahweh, made everything.
    I stretched out the heavens by myself.
    I spread out the earth all alone.
25 I cause the signs of false prophets to fail
    and make fools of fortunetellers.
    I make wise men retreat
    and turn their knowledge into foolishness.

26 He confirms the word of his servant
    and fulfills the plan of his messengers.
    He says about Jerusalem, “It will be inhabited.”
    He says about the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt.”
    He says about their ruins, “I will restore them.”
27 He says to the deep water, “Dry up.”
    So I will dry up your rivers.
28 He says about Cyrus, “He is my shepherd.
    He will do everything I want him to do.”
    He says about Jerusalem, “It will be rebuilt.”
    He says about the temple, “Your foundation will be laid.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:2 “Jeshurun” is another name for Israel.

44 Yet listen now, Jacob my servant,
    and Israel, whom I have chosen.
This is what Yahweh who made you,
    and formed you from the womb,
    who will help you says:
“Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant;
    and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
    and streams on the dry ground.
I will pour my Spirit on your descendants,
    and my blessing on your offspring:
and they will spring up among the grass,
    as willows by the watercourses.
One will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s;’
    and another will be called by the name of Jacob;
    and another will write with his hand ‘to Yahweh,’
    and honor the name of Israel.”

This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel,
    and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says:
“I am the first, and I am the last;
    and besides me there is no God.
Who is like me?
    Who will call,
    and will declare it,
    and set it in order for me,
    since I established the ancient people?
Let them declare the things that are coming,
    and that will happen.
Don’t fear,
    neither be afraid.
Haven’t I declared it to you long ago,
    and shown it?
You are my witnesses.
    Is there a God besides me?
Indeed, there is not.
    I don’t know any other Rock.”

Everyone who makes a carved image is vain.
    The things that they delight in will not profit.
    Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.
10 Who has fashioned a god,
    or molds an image that is profitable for nothing?
11 Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed;
    and the workmen are mere men.
Let them all be gathered together.
    Let them stand up.
    They will fear.
    They will be put to shame together.

12 The blacksmith takes an ax,
    works in the coals,
    fashions it with hammers,
    and works it with his strong arm.
He is hungry,
    and his strength fails;
he drinks no water,
    and is faint.
13 The carpenter stretches out a line.
    He marks it out with a pencil.
    He shapes it with planes.
    He marks it out with compasses,
    and shapes it like the figure of a man,
    with the beauty of a man,
    to reside in a house.
14 He cuts down cedars for himself,
    and takes the cypress and the oak,
    and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest.
He plants a cypress tree,
    and the rain nourishes it.
15 Then it will be for a man to burn;
    and he takes some of it, and warms himself.
    Yes, he burns it, and bakes bread.
Yes, he makes a god, and worships it;
    he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
16 He burns part of it in the fire.
    With part of it, he eats meat.
    He roasts a roast, and is satisfied.
Yes, he warms himself,
    and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.”
17 The rest of it he makes into a god,
    even his engraved image.
He bows down to it and worships,
    and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me; for you are my god!”

18 They don’t know, neither do they consider:
    for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see;
    and their hearts, that they can’t understand.
19 No one thinks,
    neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
    “I have burned part of it in the fire.
    Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals.
    I have roasted meat and eaten it.
    Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination?
    Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”
20 He feeds on ashes.
    A deceived heart has turned him aside;
    and he can’t deliver his soul,
    nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”

21 Remember these things, Jacob and Israel;
    for you are my servant.
    I have formed you.
    You are my servant.
    Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions,
    and, as a cloud, your sins.
    Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

23 Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it!
    Shout, you lower parts of the earth!
    Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees,
    for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob,
    and will glorify himself in Israel.

24 Yahweh, your Redeemer,
    and he who formed you from the womb says:
“I am Yahweh, who makes all things;
    who alone stretches out the heavens;
    who spreads out the earth by myself;
25 who frustrates the signs of the liars,
    and makes diviners mad;
who turns wise men backward,
    and makes their knowledge foolish;
26 who confirms the word of his servant,
    and performs the counsel of his messengers;
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’
    and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’
    and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’
27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’
    and ‘I will dry up your rivers;’
28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’
    even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’
    and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”