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44 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant;
and Israel, whom I have chosen:
thus saith the Lord that made thee,
and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee;
Fear not, O Jacob, my servant;
and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty,
and floods upon the dry ground:
I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,
and my blessing upon thine offspring:
and they shall spring up as among the grass,
as willows by the water courses.
One shall say, I am the Lord’s;
and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob;
and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord,
and surname himself by the name of Israel.

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel,
and his redeemer the Lord of hosts;
I am the first, and I am the last;
and beside me there is no God.
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it,
and set it in order for me,
since I appointed the ancient people?
and the things that are coming, and shall come,
let them shew unto them.
Fear ye not, neither be afraid:
have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it?
ye are even my witnesses.
Is there a God beside me?
yea, there is no God; I know not any.

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity;
and their delectable things shall not profit;
and they are their own witnesses;
they see not, nor know;
that they may be ashamed.
10 Who hath formed a god,
or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed:
and the workmen, they are of men:
let them all be gathered together, let them stand up;
yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals,
and fashioneth it with hammers,
and worketh it with the strength of his arms:
yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth:
he drinketh no water, and is faint.
13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule;
he marketh it out with a line;
he fitteth it with planes,
and he marketh it out with the compass,
and maketh it after the figure of a man,
according to the beauty of a man;
that it may remain in the house.
14 He heweth him down cedars,
and taketh the cypress and the oak,
which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest:
he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.
15 Then shall it be for a man to burn:
for he will take thereof, and warm himself;
yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread;
yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it;
he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
16 He burneth part thereof in the fire;
with part thereof he eateth flesh;
he roasteth roast, and is satisfied:
yea, he warmeth himself, and saith,
Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17 and the residue thereof he maketh a god,
even his graven image:
he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it,
and prayeth unto it, and saith,
Deliver me; for thou art my god.
18 They have not known nor understood:
for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see;
and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19 And none considereth in his heart,
neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
I have burned part of it in the fire;
yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof;
I have roasted flesh, and eaten it:
and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination?
shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
20 He feedeth on ashes:
a deceived heart hath turned him aside,
that he cannot deliver his soul,
nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel;
for thou art my servant:
I have formed thee; thou art my servant:
O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions,
and, as a cloud, thy sins:
return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it:
shout, ye lower parts of the earth:
break forth into singing, ye mountains,
O forest, and every tree therein:
for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob,
and glorified himself in Israel.
24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer,
and he that formed thee from the womb,
I am the Lord that maketh all things;
that stretcheth forth the heavens alone;
that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25 that frustrateth the tokens of the liars,
and maketh diviners mad;
that turneth wise men backward,
and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26 that confirmeth the word of his servant,
and performeth the counsel of his messengers;
that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited;
and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built,
and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
27 that saith to the deep, Be dry,
and I will dry up thy rivers:
28 that saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd,
and shall perform all my pleasure:
even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built;
and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

God’s Blessing on Israel

44 “Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
Thus says the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.’
One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel.

There Is No Other God

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
(A)‘I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
And (B)who can proclaim as I do?
Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me,
Since I appointed the ancient people.
And the things that are coming and shall come,
Let them show these to them.
Do not fear, nor be afraid;
(C)Have I not told you from that time, and declared it?
(D)You are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
Indeed (E)there is no other Rock;
I know not one.’ ”

Idolatry Is Foolishness

(F)Those who make an image, all of them are useless,
And their precious things shall not profit;
They are their own witnesses;
(G)They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
10 Who would form a god or mold an image
(H)That profits him nothing?
11 Surely all his companions would be (I)ashamed;
And the workmen, they are mere men.
Let them all be gathered together,
Let them stand up;
Yet they shall fear,
They shall be ashamed together.

12 (J)The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals,
Fashions it with hammers,
And works it with the strength of his arms.
Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails;
He drinks no water and is faint.

13 The craftsman stretches out his rule,
He marks one out with chalk;
He fashions it with a plane,
He marks it out with the compass,
And makes it like the figure of a man,
According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house.
14 He cuts down cedars for himself,
And takes the cypress and the oak;
He [a]secures it for himself among the trees of the forest.
He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it.

15 Then it shall be for a man to burn,
For he will take some of it and warm himself;
Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread;
Indeed he makes a god and worships it;
He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
16 He burns half of it in the fire;
With this half he eats meat;
He roasts a roast, and is satisfied.
He even warms himself and says,
“Ah! I am warm,
I have seen the fire.”
17 And the rest of it he makes into a god,
His carved image.
He falls down before it and worships it,
Prays to it and says,
“Deliver me, for you are my god!”

18 (K)They do not know nor understand;
For (L)He has [b]shut their eyes, so that they cannot see,
And their hearts, so that they cannot (M)understand.
19 And no one (N)considers in his heart,
Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
“I have burned half of it in the fire,
Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals;
I have roasted meat and eaten it;
And shall I make the rest of it an abomination?
Shall I fall down before a block of wood?”
20 He feeds on ashes;
(O)A deceived heart has turned him aside;
And he cannot deliver his soul,
Nor say, “Is there not a (P)lie in my right hand?”

Israel Is Not Forgotten

21 “Remember these, O Jacob,
And Israel, for you are My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant;
O Israel, you will not be (Q)forgotten by Me!
22 (R)I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for (S)I have redeemed you.”

23 (T)Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it!
Shout, you lower parts of the earth;
Break forth into singing, you mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And (U)glorified Himself in Israel.

Judah Will Be Restored

24 Thus says the Lord, (V)your Redeemer,
And (W)He who formed you from the womb:
“I am the Lord, who makes all things,
(X)Who stretches out the heavens [c]all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
25 Who (Y)frustrates the signs (Z)of the babblers,
And drives diviners mad;
Who turns wise men backward,
(AA)And makes their knowledge foolishness;
26 (AB)Who confirms the word of His servant,
And performs the counsel of His messengers;
Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’
To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’
And I will raise up her waste places;
27 (AC)Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry!
And I will dry up your rivers’;
28 Who says of (AD)Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
And he shall perform all My pleasure,
Saying to Jerusalem, (AE)“You shall be built,”
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ’

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:14 Lit. appropriates
  2. Isaiah 44:18 Lit. smeared over
  3. Isaiah 44:24 By Himself

God’s Blessing on Jacob

44 Yet now listen, O Jacob, My servant,
    and Israel, whom I have chosen.
Thus says the Lord
    who made you, and formed you from the womb,
    who will help you:
Do not fear, O Jacob, My servant, and you,
    Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
    and floods on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants,
    and My blessing on your offspring;
and they shall spring up as among the grass,
    as willows by the water courses.
One will say, “I am the Lord’s”;
    another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
and another will write on his hand, “Belonging to the Lord,”
    and name himself by the name of Israel.

Idolatry Condemned

Thus says the Lord the King of Israel,
    and his Redeemer the Lord of Hosts:
I am the first, and I am the last;
    besides Me there is no God.
Who is like Me? Let him proclaim
    and declare it, and recount it in order for Me,
since I appointed the ancient people.
    And let them declare to them the things that are coming,
    and shall come.
Do not fear, nor be afraid;
    have I not told you from of old, and declared it?
    You are My witnesses!
Is there a God besides Me?
    There is no Rock; I know not any.

Those who make a graven image are, all of them, vain,
    and their delectable things shall not profit;
and they are their own witnesses;
    they do not see nor know, that they may be ashamed.
10 Who has formed a god or molded a graven image
    that is profitable for nothing?
11 All his companions shall be ashamed;
    and the workmen, they are mere men.
Let them all be gathered together; let them stand up,
    yet they shall fear; they shall be ashamed together.

12 The smith with the tongs
    both works in the coals
and fashions it with hammers,
    and works it with the strength of his arms.
He becomes hungry, and his strength fails;
    He drinks no water and is faint.
13 The carpenter stretches out his measuring line;
    he marks it out with a line;
he fits it with planes,
    and he marks it out with the compass,
and makes it after the figure of a man,
    according to the beauty of a man,
    that it may remain in the house.
14 He hews down cedars for himself,
    and takes the cypress and the oak,
which he raises for himself among the trees of the forest.
    He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.
15 Then it shall be for a man to burn,
    for he will take some of it and warm himself;
    he kindles it and bakes bread;
he also makes a god and worships it;
    he makes it a graven image and bows down to it.
16 He burns half of it in the fire;
    over this half he eats meat;
    he roasts it and is satisfied.
Also he warms himself and says,
    “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire.”
17 And the rest he makes into a god, even his carved image.
    He falls down to it, and worships it,
and prays to it, and says,
    “Deliver me, for you are my god.”
18 They have not known nor understood;
    for He has shut their eyes so that they cannot see,
    and their hearts so that they cannot understand.
19 No one considers in his heart,
    nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say,
“I have burned part of it in the fire;
    I also have baked bread on the coals;
    I have roasted meat and eaten it;
and shall I make the rest into an abomination?
    Shall I fall down to a block of wood?”
20 He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside
    so that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say,
    “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

Israel Not Forgotten

21 Remember these things, O Jacob,
    and Israel, for you are My servant;
I have formed you; you are My servant;
    O Israel, you shall not be forgotten by Me.
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud,
    your transgressions, and your sins, as a cloud.
Return to Me,
    for I have redeemed you.

23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it.
    Shout joyfully, you lower parts of the earth;
break forth into singing, you mountains,
    O forest, and every tree in it.
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
    and glorified Himself in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

24 Thus says the Lord,
    your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb:

I am the Lord
    who makes all things,
    who stretches out the heavens alone,
    who spreads abroad the earth by Myself,
25 who frustrates the omens of the boasters
    and makes fools out of diviners,
who turns wise men backward
    and makes their knowledge foolish,
26 who confirms the word of His servant
    and performs the counsel of His messengers,

who says to Jerusalem, “You shall be inhabited,”
    and to the cities of Judah, “You shall be built.”
    And I will raise up her ruins again;
27 it is I who says to the deep, “Be dried up!”
    And I will dry up your rivers;
28 it is I who says of Cyrus, “He is My shepherd,
    and shall perform all My desire”;
    and he declares to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
    and to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”

El Señor es el único Dios

44 »Escúchame ahora, Jacob; tú, Israel, eres mi siervo; yo te escogí. Yo soy el Señor, tu Hacedor, el que te formó desde el vientre y el que siempre te ayudará. Y yo te digo que no temas. Tu eres mi siervo, Jacob; tú eres Jesurún, a quien yo escogí. Y voy a derramar aguas sobre el desierto y ríos sobre la tierra seca, y también voy a derramar mi espíritu sobre tu generación, y mi bendición sobre tus renuevos. Así ellos crecerán entre la hierba, como crecen los sauces a la orilla de los ríos. Alguno dirá “Yo soy del Señor”; otro más llevará el nombre de Jacob, y otro más escribirá con su mano “Dedicado al Señor”, y será conocido por el nombre de Israel.»

Así dice el Señor, el Rey y Redentor de Israel, el Señor de los ejércitos:

«Yo soy el primero; yo soy también el último.(A) Fuera de mí no hay otro Dios. ¿Quién puede proclamar lo que está por venir? ¿Quién puede declararlo y ponerlo en orden ante mí, como lo hago yo desde que establecí al pueblo antiguo? ¡Anuncien lo que viene, lo que está por venir! No temas; no te intimides. ¿Acaso no te lo dije y te lo hice saber desde la antigüedad? Por lo tanto, ustedes son mis testigos. No hay más Dios que yo. No hay otro Fuerte; no conozco a ninguno.»

La insensatez de la idolatría

Todos los que se dedican a hacer imágenes talladas no valen nada. Aun lo más valioso de ellos no sirve para nada. Y para confusión suya, ellos mismos son testigos de que esos ídolos no ven ni entienden. 10 ¿Quién dio forma a un dios? ¿O quién fundió una imagen que para nada sirve? 11 ¡Miren! Todos los compañeros de esos artífices serán avergonzados, porque ellos mismos son hombres. Todos ellos se reunirán, y juntos se presentarán, se asustarán, y quedarán avergonzados.

12 El herrero toma las tenazas y trabaja con las ascuas; a golpe de martillo, y con la fuerza de su brazo, le va dando forma; pero luego tiene hambre, y le faltan fuerzas; no bebe agua, y se desmaya. 13 El carpintero tiende la regla, hace trazos con lápiz rojo, pule la madera con la garlopa y hace dibujos con el compás y le da forma de hombre, de un hombre hermoso, para tenerlo en su casa. 14 Tala cedros y toma madera de ciprés y de encino, que son árboles que crecen en el bosque; y planta pinos, que la lluvia hace crecer. 15 De estos árboles se sirve el hombre para quemarlos y entrar en calor; con ellos enciende también el horno para cocer panes; además, con esa madera se hace un dios, y lo adora; ¡fabrica un ídolo, y se arrodilla ante él! 16 Parte de la leña la quema en el fuego; con parte de esa leña prepara un asado y come carne, y queda satisfecho; luego se calienta y dice: «¡Ah, al ver el fuego entré en calor!» 17 Con la madera sobrante se hace un dios, un ídolo propio, y se postra delante de él y lo adora, y entre ruegos le dice: «Ponme a salvo, porque tú eres mi dios.»

18 Esa gente no sabe ni entiende. ¡Tienen cerrados los ojos, para no ver! ¡Cierran su corazón, para no entender! 19 No se pone a pensar. No es capaz de razonar ni de entender, para decir: «Si parte de esta leña la quemé en el fuego, y sobre sus brasas cocí pan, asé carne, y me la comí, ¿con el resto de esa leña voy a hacer algo abominable? ¿Voy a arrodillarme delante de un tronco de árbol?» 20 Esa gente se alimenta con cenizas; su engañado corazón lo lleva a extraviarse, a no poner a salvo su vida, ni a decir: «¿Acaso no es pura mentira lo que tengo en mi mano derecha?»

El Señor es el Redentor de Israel

21 «Jacob, acuérdate de estas cosas. Tú, Israel, eres mi siervo. No te olvides de mí, porque yo te formé y tú eres mi siervo. 22 Yo deshice tus rebeliones y pecados como si deshiciera una nube, como si disipara la niebla. Vuélvete a mí, porque yo te redimí.»

23 Ustedes, cielos, canten alabanzas,
porque el Señor ha actuado.
Ustedes, profundidades de la tierra,
griten de alegría.
Ustedes, los montes, canten alabanzas
con todo árbol que está en el bosque;
porque el Señor redimió a Jacob,
y en Israel será glorificado.

24 Así dice el Señor, tu Redentor, el que te formó desde el vientre:

«Yo soy el Señor, el que todo lo hace; el que extiende los cielos sin ayuda; el que extiende la tierra por sí mismo; 25 el que deshace las señales de los adivinos y vuelve locos a los agoreros; el que hace retroceder a los sabios y diluye su sabiduría.(B) 26 Yo soy el que afirma la palabra de su siervo, y cumple el consejo de sus mensajeros. Yo soy el que dice a Jerusalén: “Volverás a ser habitada”, y a las ciudades de Judá: “Ustedes serán reconstruidas. Yo levantaré sus ruinas”. 27 Yo soy el que dice a las profundidades: “Secas quedarán, pues yo secaré sus ríos”. 28 Yo soy el que dice de Ciro: “Él es mi pastor, y llevará a cabo todo lo que yo quiero”.(C) Yo soy el que dice a Jerusalén: “Serás edificada”, y al templo: “Serás cimentado”.

44 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant, and Israel, who I have chosen: Thus saith Jehovah that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon [a]him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. One shall say, I am Jehovah’s; and another shall [b]call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall [c]subscribe with his hand unto Jehovah, and [d]surname himself by the name of Israel.

Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. [e]And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and that shall come to pass, let them [f]declare. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not declared unto thee of old, and showed it? and ye are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.

They that fashion a graven image are all of them [g]vanity; and the things that they delight in shall not profit; and their own witnesses see not, nor know: that they may be put to shame. 10 Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, [h]all his fellows shall be put to shame; and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; they shall fear, they shall be put to shame together.

12 The smith [i]maketh an axe, and worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with his strong arm: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth; he drinketh no water, and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretcheth out a line; he marketh it out with [j]a pencil; he shapeth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compasses, and shapeth it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the holm-tree and the oak, and strengtheneth for himself one among the trees of the forest: he planteth [k]a fir-tree, and the rain doth nourish it. 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn; and he taketh thereof, and warmeth himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread: yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16 He burneth [l]part thereof in the fire; with [m]part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied; yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire. 17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image; he falleth down unto it and worshippeth, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

18 They know not, neither do they consider: for he hath [n]shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19 And none calleth to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? 20 He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

21 Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. 22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. 23 Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah hath done it; shout, ye lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.

24 Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth [o](who is with me?); 25 that frustrateth the signs of the [p]liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; 26 that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places thereof; 27 that saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers; 28 That saith of [q]Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; [r]and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:3 Or, the thirsty land
  2. Isaiah 44:5 Or, proclaim the name
  3. Isaiah 44:5 Or, write on his hand, Unto Jehovah
  4. Isaiah 44:5 Or, give for a title the name of Israel
  5. Isaiah 44:7 Or, And who, as I, can proclaim? let him declare it etc.
  6. Isaiah 44:7 Or, declare unto them
  7. Isaiah 44:9 Or, confusion
  8. Isaiah 44:11 Or, all that join themselves thereto
  9. Isaiah 44:12 Or, sharpeneth a tool
  10. Isaiah 44:13 Or, red ochre
  11. Isaiah 44:14 Or, an ash
  12. Isaiah 44:16 Or, the half
  13. Isaiah 44:16 Or, the half
  14. Isaiah 44:18 Hebrew daubed.
  15. Isaiah 44:24 Another reading is, by myself
  16. Isaiah 44:25 Or, boasters
  17. Isaiah 44:28 Hebrew Coresh.
  18. Isaiah 44:28 Or, and the foundation of the temple shall be laid