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The Lord Will Rescue His People

43 Now, this is what the Lord says,
the one who created you, O Jacob,
and formed you, O Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect[a] you.
I call you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I am with you;
when you pass[b] through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not harm[c] you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,[d] your deliverer.
I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price,
Ethiopia and Seba[e] in place of you.
Since you are precious and special in my sight,[f]
and I love you,
I will hand over people in place of you,
nations in place of your life.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
From the east I will bring your descendants;
from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, ‘Hand them over!’
and to the south, ‘Don’t hold any back!’
Bring my sons from distant lands,
and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,
everyone who belongs to me,[g]
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed—yes, whom I made.

The Lord Declares His Sovereignty

Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,
those who are deaf, even though they have ears!
All nations gather together,
the peoples assemble.
Who among them announced this?
Who predicted earlier events for us?[h]
Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right;
let them listen and affirm, “It is true.”
10 You are my witnesses,” says the Lord,
“my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may consider[i] and believe in me,
and understand that I am he.
No god was formed before me,
and none will outlive me.[j]
11 I, I am the Lord,
and there is no deliverer besides me.
12 I decreed and delivered and proclaimed,
and there was no other god among you.
You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God.
13 From this day forward I am he;
no one can deliver from my power;[k]
I will act, and who can prevent it?”

The Lord Will Do Something New

14 This is what the Lord says,
your Protector,[l] the Holy One of Israel:[m]
“For your sake I send to Babylon
and make them all fugitives,[n]
turning the Babylonians’ joyful shouts into mourning songs.[o]
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,[p]
the one who created Israel, your king.”
16 This is what the Lord says,
the one who made a road through the sea,
a pathway through the surging waters,
17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction,[q]
together with a mighty army.
They fell down,[r] never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
18 “Don’t remember these earlier events;[s]
don’t recall these former events.

19 Look, I am about to do something new.
Now it begins to happen![t] Do you not recognize[u] it?
Yes, I will make a road in the wilderness
and paths[v] in the wastelands.
20 The wild animals[w] honor me,
the jackals and ostriches,
because I put water in the wilderness
and streams in the wastelands,
to quench the thirst of my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself,
so they might praise me.[x]

The Lord Rebukes His People

22 “But you did not call for me, O Jacob;
you did not long[y] for me, O Israel.
23 You did not bring me lambs for your burnt offerings;
you did not honor me with your sacrifices.
I did not burden you with offerings;
I did not make you weary by demanding[z] incense.
24 You did not buy me aromatic reeds;[aa]
you did not present to me[ab] the fat of your sacrifices.
Yet you burdened me with your sins;
you made me weary with your evil deeds.[ac]
25 I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake;
your sins I do not remember.
26 Remind me of what happened. Let’s debate!
You, prove to me that you are right![ad]
27 The father of your nation[ae] sinned;
your spokesmen[af] rebelled against me.
28 So I defiled your holy princes,
and handed Jacob over to destruction,
and subjected[ag] Israel to humiliating abuse.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:1 tn Or “redeem.” See the note at 41:14. Cf. NCV “saved you”; CEV “rescued you”; NLT “ransomed you.”
  2. Isaiah 43:2 tn The verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  3. Isaiah 43:2 tn Heb “burn” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV, NLT “consume”; NIV “set you ablaze.”
  4. Isaiah 43:3 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
  5. Isaiah 43:3 sn Seba is not the same as Sheba in southern Arabia; cf. Gen 1:10; 1 Chr 1:9.
  6. Isaiah 43:4 tn Heb “Since you are precious in my eyes and you are honored.”
  7. Isaiah 43:7 tn Heb “everyone who is called by my name” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).
  8. Isaiah 43:9 tn Heb “and the former things he was causing us to hear?”
  9. Isaiah 43:10 tn Or “know” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
  10. Isaiah 43:10 tn Heb “and after me, there will not be”; NASB “there will be none after Me.”
  11. Isaiah 43:13 tn Heb “hand” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “No one can oppose what I do.”
  12. Isaiah 43:14 tn Or “kinsman redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
  13. Isaiah 43:14 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
  14. Isaiah 43:14 tn Heb “and I bring down [as] fugitives all of them.”
  15. Isaiah 43:14 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “as for the Babylonians, in ships their joyful shout.” This might be paraphrased, “even the Babylonians in the ships [over which] they joyfully shouted.” The point would be that the Lord caused the Babylonians to flee for safety in the ships in which they took such great pride. A slight change in vocalization yields the reading “into mourning songs,” which provides a good contrast with “joyful shout.” The prefixed bet (בְּ) would indicate identity.
  16. Isaiah 43:15 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
  17. Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “led out chariots and horses.” The words “to destruction” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
  18. Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”
  19. Isaiah 43:18 tn Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”
  20. Isaiah 43:19 tn Heb “sprouts up”; NASB “will spring forth.”
  21. Isaiah 43:19 tn Or “know” (KJV, ASV); NASB “be aware of”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “perceive.”
  22. Isaiah 43:19 tn The Hebrew text has “streams,” probably under the influence of v. 20. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has נתיבות (“paths”).
  23. Isaiah 43:20 tn Heb “animals of the field.”
  24. Isaiah 43:21 tn Heb “[so] they might declare my praise.”
  25. Isaiah 43:22 tn Or “strive”; KJV, ASV, NRSV “been weary of me.”
  26. Isaiah 43:23 tn Heb “with.” The words “by demanding” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
  27. Isaiah 43:24 tn That is, “calamus” (so NIV); NCV, TEV, NLT “incense”; CEV “spices.”
  28. Isaiah 43:24 tn Heb “you did not saturate me”; NASB “Neither have you filled Me.”
  29. Isaiah 43:24 sn In vv. 22-24 the Lord appears to be condemning his people for failure to bring the proper sacrifices. However, this is problematic. If this refers to the nation’s behavior while in exile, such cultic service was impossible and could hardly be expected by the Lord. If this refers to the nation’s conduct before the exile, it contradicts other passages that depict Israel as bringing excessive sacrifices (see, e.g., Isa 1:11-14; Jer 6:20; Amos 4:4-5; 5:21-23). Rather than being a condemnation of Israel’s failure to bring sacrifices, these verses are better taken as a highly rhetorical comment on the worthlessness of Israel’s religious ritual. They may have brought sacrifices, but not to the Lord, for he did not accept them or even want them. See C. R. North, Second Isaiah, 127, and R. Whybray, Isaiah 40-66 (NCBC), 91.
  30. Isaiah 43:26 tn Heb “you, tell in order that you may be right”; NAB “prove your innocence.”
  31. Isaiah 43:27 tn Heb “your first father.” This could refer to Abraham (see 51:2), but elsewhere in Isaiah he does not appear in a negative light (see 29:22; 41:8; 63:16). A more likely candidate is Jacob/Israel, also referred to as the nation’s “father” elsewhere (see 58:14; 63:16).
  32. Isaiah 43:27 tn On the meaning of the term לִיץ (lits), see HALOT 590 s.v. מֵלִיץ. This may refer to the nation’s prophets, priests, and/or kings.
  33. Isaiah 43:28 tn The word “subjected” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

Възстановяването на Израил

43 (A)А сега така казва Господ, Творецът ти, Якове,
и Създателят ти, Израилю:
Не бой се, защото Аз те изкупих.
Призовах те по име; Мой си ти.
(B)Когато минаваш през водите, с тебе ще бъда,
и през реките – те няма да те потопят;
когато ходиш през огъня, ти няма да се изгориш
и пламъкът няма да те опали.
(C)Защото Аз съм Йехова, твоят Бог,
Святият Израилев, твоят Спасител;
за твой откуп дадох Египет,
за теб – Етиопия и Сева.
Понеже ти беше скъпоценен пред очите Ми,
беше на почит и Аз те възлюбих,
затова ще дам хора за теб
и племена – за живота ти.
(D)Не бой се, защото Аз съм с теб;
от изток ще доведа потомството ти
и от запад ще те събера;
ще кажа на севера: Върни обратно!,
и на юга: Не задържай!
Доведи синовете Ми отдалеч
и дъщерите Ми – от земния край:
(E)всички, които се наричат с Моето име,
които сътворих за славата Си;
Аз създадох всеки от тях, да! Аз го направих.
(F)Изведи слепия народ, който има очи,
и глухите, които имат уши.
(G)Нека се съберат заедно всички народи
и нека се стекат племената;
кой от тях може да възвести това
и да ни обясни предишните събития?
Нека доведат свидетелите си, за да се оправдаят,
за да чуят хората и да кажат: Това е вярно.
10 (H)Вие сте Мои свидетели, казва Господ,
и слугата Ми, когото избрах,
за да Ме познаете и да повярвате в Мен,
и да разберете, че съм Аз –
че преди Мене не е имало Бог
и след Мене няма да има.
11 (I)Аз, Аз съм Господ;
и освен Мене няма спасител.
12 (J)Аз възвестих, спасих и показах,
когато не е имало между вас чужд бог;
затова вие сте Ми свидетели, казва Господ,
че Аз съм Бог.
13 (K)Да, преди да е имало време[a], Аз съм;
и няма кой да избавя от ръката Ми;
Аз действам и кой ще Ми попречи?
14 Така казва Господ, вашият Изкупител, Святият Израилев;
заради вас пратих във Вавилон
и ще доведа всички като бежанци,
дори халдейците – в корабите, с които се хвалеха.
15 Аз съм Господ, Святият ваш,
Творецът Израилев, вашият Цар.
16 (L)Така казва Господ,
Който прави път в морето
и пътека – в буйните води,
17 (M)Който изважда колесници и коне, войска и сила:
Те всички ще паднат, няма да станат;
унищожени бяха, угаснаха като фитил.
18 (N)Не си спомняйте предишните неща,
нито мислете за древните събития.
19 (O)Ето, Аз ще направя нещо ново;
сега ще се появи; няма ли да внимавате в него?
Да! Ще направя път в пустинята
и реки – в безводната земя.
20 (P)Полските зверове ще Ме прославят –
чакалите и щраусите, –
защото давам вода в пустинята,
реки – в безводната земя,
за да напоя народа Си, избраните Си,
21 (Q)народа, който създадох за Себе Си,
за да оповестява хвалата Ми.
22 (R)Но ти, Якове, не Ме призова;
и ти, Израилю, се отегчи от Мене;
23 (S)не си Ми принасял агънцата на всеизгарянията си,
нито си Ме почитал с жертвите си.
Аз не те заробих с приноси
и не ти дотегнах с ливан.
24 (T)Не си купил за Мене благоуханна тръстика с пари,
нито си Ме наситил с тлъстината на жертвите си;
но ти си Ме заробил с греховете си,
дотегнал си Ми с беззаконията си.
25 (U)Аз, Аз съм, Който изтривам твоите престъпления заради Себе Си
и няма да си спомня за греховете ти.
26 Подсети Ме, за да се съдим заедно;
представи делото си, за да се оправдаеш.
27 Твоят праотец съгреши
и учителите ти престъпиха против Мене.
28 (V)Затова ще сваля от свещенството им[b] великите служители[c] на светилището
и ще обрека Яков на изтребление,
и ще направя Израил за поругание.

Footnotes

  1. 43:13 От евр. ден.
  2. 43:28 От евр. ще оскверня.
  3. 43:28 Първенците.

The Redeemer of Israel

43 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, (A)for I have redeemed you;
(B)I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
(C)When you pass through the waters, (D)I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you (E)walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
(F)I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have (G)loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
(H)Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And (I)gather you from the west;
I will say to the (J)north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
Everyone who is (K)called by My name,
Whom (L)I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

(M)Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
And the (N)deaf who have ears.
Let all the nations be gathered together,
And let the people be assembled.
(O)Who among them can declare this,
And show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified;
Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.”
10 “You(P) are My witnesses,” says the Lord,
(Q)“And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and (R)believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
11 I, even I, (S)am the Lord,
And besides Me there is no savior.
12 I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no (T)foreign god among you;
(U)Therefore you are My witnesses,”
Says the Lord, “that I am God.
13 (V)Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will (W)reverse it?”

14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon,
And bring them all down as fugitives—
The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
The Creator of Israel, your (X)King.”

16 Thus says the Lord, who (Y)makes a way in the sea
And a (Z)path through the mighty waters,
17 Who (AA)brings forth the chariot and horse,
The army and the power
(They shall lie down together, they shall not rise;
They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
18 “Do(AB) not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a (AC)new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
(AD)I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
20 The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because (AE)I give waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
21 (AF)This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My (AG)praise.

Pleading with Unfaithful Israel

22 “But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob;
And you (AH)have been weary of Me, O Israel.
23 (AI)You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings,
Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings,
Nor wearied you with incense.
24 You have bought Me no sweet cane with money,
Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
But you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have (AJ)wearied Me with your iniquities.

25 “I, even I, am He who (AK)blots out your transgressions (AL)for My own sake;
(AM)And I will not remember your sins.
26 Put Me in remembrance;
Let us contend together;
State your case, that you may be [a]acquitted.
27 Your first father sinned,
And your [b]mediators have transgressed against Me.
28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary;
(AN)I will give Jacob to the curse,
And Israel to reproaches.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:26 justified
  2. Isaiah 43:27 interpreters