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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,[a]
together with a mighty army.
They fell down,[b] never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
18 “Don’t remember these earlier events;[c]
don’t recall these former events.

19 Look, I am about to do something new.
Now it begins to happen![d] Do you not recognize[e] it?
Yes, I will make a road in the wilderness
and paths[f] in the wastelands.
20 The wild animals[g] 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.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. 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.
  2. Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”
  3. Isaiah 43:18 tn Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”
  4. Isaiah 43:19 tn Heb “sprouts up”; NASB “will spring forth.”
  5. Isaiah 43:19 tn Or “know” (KJV, ASV); NASB “be aware of”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “perceive.”
  6. Isaiah 43:19 tn The Hebrew text has “streams,” probably under the influence of v. 20. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has נתיבות (“paths”).
  7. Isaiah 43:20 tn Heb “animals of the field.”
  8. Isaiah 43:21 tn Heb “[so] they might declare my praise.”

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.

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