Print Page Options

43 The Lord created Jacob and formed Israel. Now, this is what the Lord says:

Do not be afraid, because I have reclaimed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through the sea, I am with you.
When you go through rivers, they will not sweep you away.
When you walk through fire, you will not be burned,
and the flames will not harm you.
I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Egypt is the ransom I exchanged for you.
Sudan and Seba are the price I paid for you.
Since you are precious to me, you are honored and I love you.
I will exchange others for you.
Nations will be the price I pay for your life.

Do not be afraid, because I am with you.
I will bring your descendants from the east
and gather you from the west.
I will say to the north, “Give them up,”
and to the south, “Do not keep them.”
Bring my sons from far away
and my daughters from the ends of the earth.
Bring everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.
Bring the people who are blind but still have eyes,
the people who are deaf but still have ears.
All nations have gathered together, and people have assembled.
Who among them could have revealed this?
Who among them could have foretold this to us?
They should bring their witnesses to prove that they were right.
Let the people hear them. Then they will say that it is true.

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord.
“I have chosen you as my servant
so that you can know and believe in me
and understand that I am the one ⌞who did this⌟.
No god was formed before me,
and there will be none after me.
11 I alone am the Lord,
and there is no savior except me.
12 I have revealed it to you, I have saved you,
and I have announced it to you.
There was no foreign ⌞god⌟ among you.
You are my witnesses that I am God,” declares the Lord.
13 “From the ⌞first⌟ day I was the one ⌞who did this⌟.
No one can rescue people from my power.
When I do something, who can undo it?”
14 This is what the Lord, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says:

For your sake I will send ⌞an army⌟ to Babylon.
I will bring back all the Babylonian refugees
in the ships that they take pride in.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.

Despite the People of Israel’s Past Sin, the Lord Will Forgive Them

16 The Lord makes a path through the sea
and a road through the strong currents.
17 He leads chariots and horses, an army and reinforcements.
(They lie down together and do not get up ⌞again⌟.
They are extinguished and snuffed out like a wick.)

This is what the Lord says:

18 Forget what happened in the past,
and do not dwell on events from long ago.
19 I am going to do something new.
It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it?
I will clear a way in the desert.
I will make rivers on dry land.
20 Wild animals, jackals, and ostriches will honor me.
I will provide water in the desert.
I will make rivers on the dry land for my chosen people to drink.
21 I have formed these people for myself.
They will praise me.

22 Jacob, you have not prayed to me.
Israel, you have grown tired of me.
23 You did not bring me sheep for your burnt offerings
or honor me with your sacrifices.
I did not burden you by requiring grain offerings
or trouble you by requiring incense offerings.
24 You did not buy me any sugar cane with ⌞your⌟ money
or satisfy me with the best part of your sacrifices.
Rather, you burdened me with your sins
and troubled me with your wrongdoings.

25 I alone am the one who is going to wipe away your rebellious actions
for my own sake.
I will not remember your sins ⌞anymore⌟.
26 Remind me ⌞of what happened⌟.
Let us argue our case together.
State your case so that you can prove you are right.
27 Your first ancestor sinned,
and your priests rebelled against me.
28 That is why I will corrupt the leaders of the holy place.
I will claim Jacob for destruction.
I will set up Israel for ridicule.

43 And now the Lord God, making of nought thee, Jacob, and forming thee, Israel, saith these things, Do not thou dread, for I again-bought thee, and I called thee by thy name; thou art my servant. (And now the Lord God, making thee, Jacob, out of nothing, and forming thee, Israel, saith these things, Do not thou fear, for I have ransomed, or redeemed, thee, and I have called thee by thy name; thou art my servant.)

When thou shalt go by waters, I shall be with thee, and floods shall not cover thee; when thou shalt go in fire, thou shalt not be burnt, and flame shall not burn in thee (and the flame shall not burn thee).

For I am thy Lord God, the Holy of Israel, thy saviour. I gave (for) thy mercy Egypt, (yea, also) Ethiopia, and Seba, for thee. (For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. I gave up Egypt for thy ransom, yea, also Ethiopia, and Seba, for thee.)

Since thou art made honourable, and glorious in mine eyes; I (have) loved thee, and I shall give (up) men for thee, and peoples for thy soul.

Do not thou dread, for I am with thee; I shall bring thy seed from the east, and I shall gather thee together from the west. (Do not thou fear, for I am with thee; I shall bring thy descendants from the east, and I shall gather thee together from the west.)

I shall say to the north, Give thou (them up), and to the south, Do not thou forbid (them); bring thou my sons from afar, and my daughters from the last parts of [the] earth (and my daughters from the ends of the earth).

And each that calleth my name to help, into my glory I made him of nought; I formed him, and made him. (Yea, each person who is called by my name, for I made them out of nothing, for my glory; I formed them, and I made them.)

Lead thou forth the blind people, and having eyes; the deaf people, and ears be to it. (Lead thou forth the people who have eyes, but be blind; the people who have ears, but be deaf.)

All heathen men be gathered together, and lineages be gathered together. Who among you, who shall tell this, and shall make you to hear those things, that be the first? give they [the] witnesses of them, and be they justified, and hear they, and say, (That is the truth). (All the heathen be gathered together, and the tribes be gathered together. Who among you, who shall tell out this, and shall help us to understand the former things? bring they in their witnesses, and be they justified, or proven right, and listen they, and say, That is the truth.)

10 Verily ye be my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant(s), whom I chose; that ye know, and believe to me, and understand, for I myself am; before me is no God former, and after me shall none be. (Truly ye be my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servants, whom I chose; so that ye would know me, and believe me, and understand, that I am he; before me no God was formed, and there shall be no one after me.)

11 I am, I am the Lord, and without me is no saviour. (I am, yea, I am the Lord, and there is no other saviour besides me.)

12 I told, and saved; I made hearing, and none alien God was among you (I have told it out, and I have saved; I have made it heard, when there was no foreign, or strange, god among you). Ye be my witnesses, saith the Lord; and I am God,

13 from the beginning, I myself am, and none there is that delivereth from mine hand; I shall work, and who shall destroy it? (yea, from the beginning, I am he, and there is no one who taketh anything from my hand; I shall do my work, and who shall be able to destroy it?)

14 The Lord, your again-buyer, the Holy of Israel, saith these things, For you I sent out into Babylon, and I drew down all bars, and [the] Chaldees having glory in their ships. (The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, saith these things, For your sakes I have sent to Babylon, and I have brought down all their bars, or all their gates, and the Chaldeans having glory in their ships.)

15 I am the Lord, your Holy, your king, making Israel of nought. (I am the Lord, your Holy One, your King, making Israel out of nothing.)

16 The Lord saith these things, that gave [a] way in the sea, and a path in running waters;

17 which led out a cart, and horse, a company, and (a) strong man; they slept together, neither they shall rise again; they be all-broken as flax, and be quenched (like a wick). (who led out chariots, and horses, yea, a company of strong men; they all sleep now, or be dead, and they shall never rise again; they be all-broken like flax, and be quenched, or snuffed out, like a wick.)

18 Think ye not on the former things, and behold ye not (on the) old things.

19 Lo! I make new things, and now those shall begin to be made; soothly ye shall know them. I shall set [a] way in (the) desert, and floods in a land without (a) way.

20 And a beast of the field shall glorify me, (the) dragons and ostriches shall glorify me; for I gave waters in desert, and floods in the land without (a) way, that I should give drink to my people, to my chosen people.

21 I formed this people to me, it shall tell my praising. (I formed this people for myself, and they shall tell out my praises.)

22 Jacob, thou calledest not me to help; and thou, Israel, travailedest not for me. (Yet Jacob, thou hast not called upon me for help; yea, Israel, thou hast not laboured for me.)

23 Thou offeredest not to me the ram of thy burnt sacrifice, and thou glorifiedest not me with thy slain sacrifices. I made not thee to serve in offering, neither I gave to thee travail in incense. (Thou hast not offered me the ram of thy burnt sacrifice, and thou hast not glorified me with thy slain sacrifices. And I did not ask thee to serve me with offerings, nor did I ask thee to offer incense to me.)

24 Thou boughtest not to me sweet smelling spicery for silver, and thou filledest not me with [the] fatness of thy slain sacrifices; nevertheless thou madest me to serve in thy sins, thou gavest travail to me in thy wickednesses. (Thou hast not brought me sweet smelling spices with thy silver, and thou hast not fulfilled, or satisfied, me/and thou hast not filled me with the fatness of thy slain sacrifices; nevertheless thou hast burdened me with thy sins, and thou hast given me trials and tribulation with thy wickednesses.)

25 I am, I myself am, that do away thy wickednesses for me, and I shall not have mind on thy sins. (But I am, yea, I am he who do away thy wickednesses for my own sake, and I shall not remember thy sins.)

26 Bring me again into mind, and be we deemed together; tell thou, if thou hast anything, that thou be justified. (Bring me again into mind, and be we judged together, or let us argue it out; tell thou it out, if thou hast anything, by which thou can be justified.)

27 Thy first father sinned, and thine interpreters trespassed against me. (Thy first father sinned, and thy expounders trespassed against me.)

28 And I made foul (the) holy princes, and I gave Jacob to death, and Israel into blasphemy. (And I defiled the princes of the sanctuary, and I gave Jacob unto death, and Israel unto reproach./And thy leaders defiled my sanctuary, and so I gave Jacob unto death, and Israel unto reproach.)

43 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.

13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

14 Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

16 Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.

28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

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

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.”