Isaiah 44:1-8

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.”

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Footnotes

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

Isaiah 51:7-16

New International Version

⁷“Hear me, you who know what is right,^(A)
    you people who have taken my instruction to heart:^(B)
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
    or be terrified by their insults.^(C)
⁸For the moth will eat them up like a garment;^(D)
    the worm^(E) will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,^(F)
    my salvation through all generations.”

⁹Awake, awake,^(G) arm^(H) of the Lord,
    clothe yourself with strength!^(I)
Awake, as in days gone by,
    as in generations of old.^(J)
Was it not you who cut Rahab^(K) to pieces,
    who pierced that monster^(L) through?
¹⁰Was it not you who dried up the sea,^(M)
    the waters of the great deep,^(N)
who made a road in the depths of the sea^(O)
    so that the redeemed^(P) might cross over?
¹¹Those the Lord has rescued^(Q) will return.
    They will enter Zion with singing;^(R)
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy^(S) will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.^(T)

¹²“I, even I, am he who comforts^(U) you.
    Who are you that you fear^(V) mere mortals,^(W)
    human beings who are but grass,^(X)
¹³that you forget^(Y) the Lord your Maker,^(Z)
    who stretches out the heavens^(AA)
    and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror^(AB) every day
    because of the wrath of the oppressor,
    who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?^(AC)
¹⁴    The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;^(AD)
they will not die in their dungeon,
    nor will they lack bread.^(AE)
¹⁵For I am the Lord your God,
    who stirs up the sea^(AF) so that its waves roar^(AG)—
    the Lord Almighty^(AH) is his name.
¹⁶I have put my words in your mouth^(AI)
    and covered you with the shadow of my hand^(AJ)—
I who set the heavens in place,
    who laid the foundations of the earth,^(AK)
    and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.^(AL)’”