Isaiah 44:13-28

New International Version

¹³The carpenter^(A) 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,^(B)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(C)
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,^(D) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵It is used as fuel^(E) 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^(F) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(G) 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.^(H)”
¹⁷From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(I)
He prays^(J) to it and says,
    “Save^(K) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸They know nothing, they understand^(L) nothing;
    their eyes^(M) 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^(N) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(O)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(P) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(Q)
²⁰Such a person feeds on ashes;^(R) a deluded^(S) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(T)”

²¹“Remember^(U) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.^(V)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(W)
    Israel, I will not forget you.^(X)
²²I have swept away^(Y) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(Z) to me,
    for I have redeemed^(AA) you.”

²³Sing for joy,^(AB) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth^(AC) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,^(AD)
    you forests and all your trees,^(AE)
for the Lord has redeemed^(AF) Jacob,
    he displays his glory^(AG) in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

²⁴“This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer,^(AH) who formed^(AI) you in the womb:^(AJ)

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,^(AK)
    who spreads out the earth^(AL) by myself,
²⁵who foils^(AM) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,^(AN)
who overthrows the learning of the wise^(AO)
    and turns it into nonsense,^(AP)
²⁶who carries out the words^(AQ) of his servants
    and fulfills^(AR) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,^(AS) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,^(AT) ‘I will restore them,’^(AU)
²⁷who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up^(AV) your streams,’
²⁸who says of Cyrus,^(AW) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,^(AX) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,^(AY) “Let its foundations^(AZ) be laid.”’