I am the first and I am the last.^(E)
There is no God but Me.^(F)
7 Who, like Me, can announce the future?
Let him say so and make a case before Me,^(G)
since I have established an ancient people.
Let these gods declare^[d] the coming things,
and what will take place.
⁸ Do not be startled or afraid.
Have I not told you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!^(H)
Is there any God but Me?^(I)
There is no other Rock;^(J) I do not know any.

⁹ All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure does not profit.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.^(K)
10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image
for no profit?^(L)
11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame,
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.

¹² The ironworker labors over the coals,
shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
¹³ The woodworker stretches out a measuring line,
he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human likeness,^(M)
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
¹⁴ He cuts down^[e] cedars for his use,
or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
¹⁵ It serves as fuel for man.
He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
¹⁶ He burns half of it in a fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
¹⁷ He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.
He bows down to it and worships;
He prays to it,^(N) “Save me, for you are my god.”
¹⁸ Such people^[f] do not comprehend
and cannot understand,
for He has shut their eyes^[g] so they cannot see,
and their minds so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one reflects,
no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
I will make something detestable^(O) with the rest of it,
and I will bow down to a block of wood.”
²⁰ He feeds on^[h] ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”^(P)

²¹ Remember these things, Jacob,
and Israel, for you are My servant;
I formed you, you are My servant;
Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me.^[i](Q)
22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,^(R)
and your sins like a mist.
Return to Me,^(S)
for I have redeemed you.^(T)
23 Rejoice, heavens,^(U) for the Lord has acted;
shout, depths of the earth.
Break out into singing, mountains,
forest, and every tree in it.
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
and glorifies Himself through Israel.^(V)

I am Yahweh, who made everything;
who stretched out the heavens by Myself;^(Y)
who alone spread out the earth;
²⁵ who destroys the omens of the false prophets
and makes fools of diviners;
who confounds the wise
and makes their knowledge foolishness;^(Z)
26 who confirms the message of His servant
and fulfills the counsel of His messengers;
who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,”
and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,”
and I will restore her ruins;
²⁷ who says to the depths of the sea, “Be dry,”
and I will dry up your rivers;
²⁸ who says to Cyrus,^(AA) “My shepherd,
he will fulfill all My pleasure”^(AB)
and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,”^(AC)
and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”