Isaiah 44:1-23

New International Version

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,^(A)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.^(B)
²This is what the Lord says—
    he who made^(C) you, who formed you in the womb,^(D)
    and who will help^(E) you:
Do not be afraid,^(F) Jacob, my servant,^(G)
    Jeshurun,^[a]^(H) whom I have chosen.
³For I will pour water^(I) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;^(J)
I will pour out my Spirit^(K) on your offspring,
    and my blessing^(L) on your descendants.^(M)
⁴They will spring up like grass^(N) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees^(O) by flowing streams.^(P)
⁵Some will say, ‘I belong^(Q) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,^(R) ‘The Lord’s,’^(S)
    and will take the name Israel.

The Lord, Not Idols

⁶“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King^(T) and Redeemer,^(U) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;^(V)
    apart from me there is no God.^(W)
⁷Who then is like me?^(X) Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
    and what is yet to come—
    yes, let them foretell^(Y) what will come.
⁸Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim^(Z) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God^(AA) besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock;^(AB) I know not one.”

⁹All who make idols^(AC) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(AD)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(AE)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(AF)
¹⁰Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(AG)
    which can profit nothing?^(AH)
¹¹People who do that will be put to shame;^(AI)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(AJ)

¹²The blacksmith^(AK) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.^(AL)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(AM)
¹³The carpenter^(AN) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,^(AO)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(AP)
¹⁴He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,^(AQ) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵It is used as fuel^(AR) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships^(AS) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(AT) down to it.
¹⁶Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.^(AU)”
¹⁷From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(AV)
He prays^(AW) to it and says,
    “Save^(AX) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸They know nothing, they understand^(AY) nothing;
    their eyes^(AZ) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
¹⁹No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding^(BA) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(BB)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(BC) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(BD)
²⁰Such a person feeds on ashes;^(BE) a deluded^(BF) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(BG)”

²¹“Remember^(BH) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.^(BI)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(BJ)
    Israel, I will not forget you.^(BK)
²²I have swept away^(BL) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(BM) to me,
    for I have redeemed^(BN) you.”

²³Sing for joy,^(BO) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth^(BP) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,^(BQ)
    you forests and all your trees,^(BR)
for the Lord has redeemed^(BS) Jacob,
    he displays his glory^(BT) in Israel.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.

Proverbs 4

New International Version

Get Wisdom at Any Cost

4 Listen, my sons,^(A) to a father’s instruction;^(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.^(C)
²I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
³For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
⁴Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold^(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.^(E)
⁵Get wisdom,^(F) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
⁶Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;^(G)
    love her, and she will watch over you.^(H)
⁷The beginning of wisdom is this: Get^[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all^(I) you have,^[b] get understanding.^(J)
⁸Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.^(K)
⁹She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.^(L)”

¹⁰Listen, my son,^(M) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.^(N)
¹¹I instruct^(O) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.^(P)
¹²When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.^(Q)
¹³Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.^(R)
¹⁴Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.^(S)
¹⁵Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
¹⁶For they cannot rest until they do evil;^(T)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
¹⁷They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.^(U)

¹⁸The path of the righteous^(V) is like the morning sun,^(W)
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.^(X)
¹⁹But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;^(Y)
they do not know what makes them stumble.^(Z)

²⁰My son,^(AA) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.^(AB)
²¹Do not let them out of your sight,^(AC)
    keep them within your heart;
²²for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.^(AD)
²³Above all else, guard^(AE) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.^(AF)
²⁴Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
²⁵Let your eyes^(AG) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶Give careful thought to the^[c] paths for your feet^(AH)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷Do not turn to the right or the left;^(AI)
    keep your foot from evil.