Israel Refined for God's Glory

48 Hear this, O house of Jacob,
    (A)who are called by the name of Israel,
    and (B)who came from the waters of Judah,
(C)who swear by the name of the Lord
    and confess the God of Israel,
    but not in truth or right.
For they call themselves after the holy city,
    (D)and stay themselves on the God of Israel;
    the Lord of hosts is his name.

“The former things (E)I declared of old;
    they went out from my mouth, and I announced them;
    then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.
Because I know that (F)you are obstinate,
    and your neck is an iron sinew
    and your forehead brass,
(G)I declared them to you from of old,
    before they came to pass I announced them to you,
lest you should say, (H)‘My idol did them,
    my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’

“You have heard; now see all this;
    and will you not declare it?
From this time forth (I)I announce to you new things,
    hidden things that you have not known.

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New things from now on

48 Listen to this, house of Jacob,
    who are known by the name of Israel,
        descendants of Judah,[a]
    who swear by the Lord’s name
        and invoke Israel’s God dishonestly and unrighteously.

    They are known as residents of the holy city,
        those who depend upon the God of Israel—
        the Lord of heavenly forces is his name.
Past things I announced long ago;
    from my mouth I proclaimed them.
    I acted suddenly, and they came about.
Because I know that you are stubborn,
    your neck is made of iron,
    and your forehead is bronze.
I informed you long ago;
    before they came about I proclaimed them to you
    so you wouldn’t say, “My idol did them;
    my wood statue and metal god commanded them.”
You’ve heard and seen all this—
    won’t you admit it?
From now on I’ll tell you new things,
    guarded secrets that you don’t know.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 48:1 Or came out from the waters of Judah