Isaiah 48:3-16

New American Standard Bible

³ I ^(A)declared the former things long ago,
And they went out of My mouth, and I proclaimed them.
^(B)Suddenly I acted, and they ^(C)came to pass.
⁴ Because I know that you are ^[a](D)obstinate,
And your ^(E)neck is an iron tendon
And your ^(F)forehead bronze,
⁵ Therefore I declared them to you long ago,
Before ^[b]they took place I proclaimed them to you,
So that you would not say, ‘My ^(G)idol has done them,
And my carved image and my cast metal image have commanded them.’
⁶ You have heard; look at all this.
And you, will you not declare it?
I proclaim to you ^(H)new things from this time,
Hidden things which you have not known.
⁷ They are created now and not long ago;
And before today you have not heard them,
So that you will not say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’
⁸ You have not ^(I)heard, you have not known.
Even from long ago your ear has not been open,
Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously;
And you have been called a ^[c](J)rebel from ^[d]birth.
^9 (K)For the sake of My name I ^(L)delay My wrath,
And for My praise I restrain it for you,
In order not to cut you off.
¹⁰ Behold, I have refined you, but ^(M)not as silver;
I have tested you in the ^(N)furnace of affliction.
^11 (O)For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act;
For how can My name be profaned?
And I will not give My ^(P)glory to another.

¹² “Listen to Me, Jacob, Israel ^[e]whom I called;
^(Q)I am He, ^(R)I am the first, I am also the last.
¹³ Assuredly My hand ^(S)founded the earth,
And My right hand spread out the heavens;
When I ^(T)call to them, they stand together.
^14 (U)Assemble, all of you, and listen!
^(V)Who among them has declared these things?
The Lord loves him; he will ^(W)carry out His good pleasure against ^(X)Babylon,
And His arm will be against the Chaldeans.
¹⁵ I, yes I, have spoken; indeed I have ^(Y)called him,
I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful.
^16 (Z)Come near to Me, listen to this:
From the beginning I have ^(AA)not spoken in secret,
^(AB)From the time it took place, I was there.
And now ^(AC)the Lord ^[f]God has sent Me, and His Spirit.”