Isaiah 44:1-18

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.