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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Israel Must Leave Babylon

48 “Listen to this, house of Jacob—
those who are called by the name Israel
and have descended from[a] Judah,(A)
who swear by the name of Yahweh(B)
and declare the God of Israel,
but not in truth or righteousness.
For they are named after the Holy City,
and lean on the God of Israel;(C)
His name is Yahweh of Hosts.
I declared the past events long ago;
they came out of My mouth; I proclaimed them.
Suddenly I acted, and they occurred.
Because I know that you are stubborn,
and your neck is iron[b]
and your forehead bronze,(D)
therefore I declared to you long ago.
I announced it to you before it occurred,
so you could not claim, ‘My idol caused them;
my carved image and cast idol control them.’(E)
You have heard it. Observe it all.
Will you not acknowledge it?
From now on I will announce new things to you,
hidden things that you have not known.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 48:1 Lit have come from the waters of
  2. Isaiah 48:4 Lit is an iron sinew