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God’s Promise concerning His Servant

42 “Behold, My [a]Servant, whom I [b]uphold;
My Chosen One in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the nations.(A)

“He will not call out or shout aloud,
Nor make His voice heard in the street.

“A broken reed He will not break [off]
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish [He will not harm those who are weak and suffering];
He will faithfully bring forth justice.(B)

“He will not be disheartened or crushed [in spirit];
[He will persevere] until He has established justice on the earth;
And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”(C)

This is what God the Lord says,

He who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its produce,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk on it,

“I am the Lord, I have called You (the Messiah) in righteousness [for a righteous purpose],
I will also take You by the hand and keep watch over You,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people [Israel],
As a light to the nations (Gentiles),

To open the eyes of the blind,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who sit in darkness from the prison.(D)

“I am the Lord, that is My Name;
My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved idols.

“Indeed, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

10 
Sing to the Lord a new song,
Sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
You islands and coastlands, and those who inhabit them [sing His praise]!
11 
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The villages where Kedar lives.
Let the inhabitants of [c]Sela shout for joy,
Let them shout joyfully from the tops of the mountains.
12 
Let them give glory to the Lord
And declare His praise in the islands and coastlands.
13 
The Lord will go forth like a warrior,
He will stir up His zeal like a man of war;
He will shout out, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail [mightily] against His enemies.

The Blindness of the People

14 
“I [the Lord] have been silent for a long time,
I have been still and restrained Myself.
Now I will moan like a woman in labor,
I will both gasp and pant.
15 
“I will lay waste the mountains and hills
And wither all their vegetation;
I will turn the rivers into coastlands
And dry up the ponds.
16 
“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know;
I will guide them in paths that they do not know.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These things I will do [for them],
And I will not leave them abandoned or undone.”
17 
Those who trust in carved idols will be turned back,
And utterly put to shame,
Who say to cast images,
“You are our gods.”

18 
Hear, you deaf!
And look, you blind, that you may see.
19 
Who is blind but My servant [Israel],
Or deaf like My messenger whom I send?
Who is blind like the one who is at peace with Me [in a covenant relationship],
Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 
You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
Your ears are open, but no one hears.
21 
The Lord was pleased for His righteousness’ sake
To make the law great and prove to be glorious.
22 
But this is a people despoiled and plundered;
All of them are trapped in holes,
Or are hidden away in prisons.
They have become a prey with no one to rescue them,
And a spoil, with no one to say, “Give them back!”(E)

23 
Who among you will listen to this?
Who will listen and pay attention in the time to come?
24 
Who gave up Jacob [the kingdom of Judah] for spoil, and [the kingdom of] Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the Lord, He against whom we [of Judah] have sinned,
And in whose ways they [of Israel] were unwilling to walk,
And whose law and teaching they did not obey?
25 
Therefore He poured out on Israel the heat of His anger
And the fierceness of battle;
And engulfed him in fire,
Yet he did not recognize [the lesson of repentance which the Assyrian conquest was intended to teach];
It burned him, but he did not take it to heart.

Israel Redeemed

43 But now, this is what the Lord, your Creator says, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity];
I have called you by name; you are Mine!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.

“For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I have given Egypt [to the Babylonians] as your ransom,
Cush (ancient Ethiopia) and Seba [its province] in exchange for you.

“Because you are precious in My sight,
You are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in return for you and other peoples in exchange for your life.

“Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east [where they are scattered],
And gather you from the west.(F)

“I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from far way
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,

Everyone who is called by My Name,
Whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Israel Is God’s Witness


Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,
And the deaf, even though they have ears.

All the nations have gathered together
So that the peoples may be assembled.
Who among them (the idolaters) can [d]predict this [that Judah would return from captivity]
And proclaim to us the former events?
Let them provide their witnesses so that they may be justified,
Or let them hear and say [in acknowledgement], “It is the truth.”(G)
10 
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me.
11 
“I, [only] I, am the Lord,
And there is no Savior besides Me.
12 
“I have declared [the future] and saved [the nation] and proclaimed [that I am God],
And there was no strange (alien) god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses [among the pagans],” declares the Lord,
“That I am God.
13 
“Even from eternity I am He,
And there is no one who can rescue from My hand;
I act, and who can revoke or reverse it?”

Babylon to Be Destroyed

14 This is what the Lord your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says,

“For your sake I have sent [one] to Babylon,
And I will bring down all of them as fugitives,
Even the Chaldeans [who reign in Babylon], into the ships [e]over which they rejoiced.
15 
“I am the Lord, your Holy One,
The Creator of Israel, your King.”

16 This is what the Lord says,

He who makes a way through the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
17 
He who brings out the chariot and the horse,
The army and the mighty warrior,
(They will lie down together, they will not rise again;
They have been extinguished, they have been put out like a lamp’s wick):
18 
“Do not remember the former things,
Or ponder the things of the past.
19 
“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
20 
“The beasts of the field will honor Me,
Jackals and ostriches,
Because I have given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.(H)
21 
“The people whom I formed for Myself
Will make known My praise.

The Shortcomings of Israel

22 
“Yet you have not called on Me [in prayer and worship], O Jacob;
But you have grown weary of Me, O Israel.
23 
“You have not brought Me your sheep or goats for your burnt offerings,
Nor honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
Nor wearied you with [demands for offerings of] incense.
24 
“You have not bought Me sweet cane with money,
Nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
But you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have wearied Me with your wickedness.

25 
“I, only I, am He who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins.
26 
[f]Remind Me [of your merits with a thorough report], let us plead and argue our case together;
State your position, that you may be proved right.
27 
“Your first father [Jacob] sinned,
And your spokesmen [the priests and the prophets—your mediators] have transgressed against Me.
28 
“So I will [g]profane the officials of the sanctuary,
And I will consign Jacob to destruction and [I will subject] Israel to defamation and abuse.

The Blessings of Israel

44 “But now listen, O Jacob, My servant,
And Israel, whom I have chosen:

This is what the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you says,
‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And Jeshurun (Israel, the upright one) whom I have chosen.(I)

‘For I will pour out water on him who is thirsty,
And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring
And My blessing on your descendants;(J)

And they will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the streams of water.’

“One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
And another will name himself after Jacob;
And another will write on his hand, ‘I am the Lord’s,’
And be called by the [honorable] name of Israel.

“For the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts says this,

‘I am the First and I am the Last;
And there is no God besides Me.(K)

‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim it and declare it;
Yes, let him confront Me,
Since I established the people of antiquity.
And let them [those supposed gods] tell those people [who foolishly follow them] the things to come
And the events that are going to take place.

‘Do not tremble nor be afraid [of the violent upheavals to come];
Have I not long ago proclaimed it to you and declared it?
And you are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
There is no other Rock;
I know of none.’”

The Folly of Idolatry

All who make carved idols are nothing. Their precious objects are worthless [to them], and their own witnesses (worshipers) fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame. 10 Who has made a god or cast an idol which is profitable for nothing? 11 In fact, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble, let them stand up, let them be terrified, let them together be put to shame.

12 The ironsmith shapes iron and uses a chisel and works it over the coals. He forms the [idol’s] core with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He also becomes hungry and his strength fails; he drinks no water and grows tired. 13 The carpenter stretches out a measuring line, he marks out the shape [of the idol] with red chalk; he works it with planes and outlines it with the compass; and he makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of man, that it may sit in a house. 14 He cuts cedars for himself, and takes a cypress or an oak and lets it grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it becomes fuel for a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also kindles a fire to bake bread. He also makes a god [from the same wood] and worships it. He makes it into a carved idol [with his own hands] and falls down and worships it! 16 He burns half of the wood in the fire; over this half he [cooks and] eats meat, he roasts meat and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” 17 But from what is left of the wood he makes a god, his carved idol. He falls down before it, he worships it and prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”

18 They do not know, nor do they understand, for God has muddied their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts (minds) as well so that they cannot understand. 19 No one remembers, nor has knowledge and understanding [enough] to say [to himself], “I have burned half of this log in the fire, and also baked bread on its coals and have roasted meat and eaten it. Then I make the rest of it into an repulsive thing [to God]; I bow down [to worship] before a block of wood!” 20 That kind of man (the idolater) feeds on ashes [and is satisfied with ashes]! A deceived mind has led him astray, so that he cannot save himself, or ask, “Is this thing [that I am holding] in my right hand not a lie?”

God Forgives and Redeems

21 
“Remember [the foolishness of] these things, O Jacob
And Israel, for you are My servant!
I formed you, you are My servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.
22 
“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud
And your sins like a heavy mist.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
23 
Shout for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done it!
Shout in triumph, you depths of the earth;
Break forth into jubilant rejoicing, you mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And He shows His glory in Israel.

24 For the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb says this,

“I am the Lord, Maker of all things,
Who alone stretches out the heavens,
Who spreads out the earth [h]by Myself,
25 
Frustrating the signs and confounding the omens of boasters (false prophets),
Making fools out of [i]fortune-tellers,
Counteracting the wise
And making their knowledge ridiculous,(L)
26 
Confirming the word of His servant
And carrying out the plan of His messengers.
It is I who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall [again] be inhabited!’
And of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall [again] be built.’
And I will raise up and restore her ruins.
27 
It is I who says to the deep, ‘Be dried up!’
And I will make your rivers dry.
28 
It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd (ruler),
And he will carry out all that I desire—’
Saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall [again] be built,’
And of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall [again] be laid.’”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 42:1 This is the first of the famous prophecies concerning the Servant of the Lord, the Messiah (Is 42:1-7; 49:1-9a; 50:4-9; 52:13-53:12).
  2. Isaiah 42:1 Or hold fast.
  3. Isaiah 42:11 Gr Petra (rock). Sela was probably the Edomite capital at this time. Carved into great walls of rose-colored rock it was later controlled by the Nabateans.
  4. Isaiah 43:9 Lit announce.
  5. Isaiah 43:14 Lit of their rejoicing.
  6. Isaiah 43:26 Or Report to Me.
  7. Isaiah 43:28 Or pierce.
  8. Isaiah 44:24 Lit who was with Me?
  9. Isaiah 44:25 The Hebrew is a synonym of diviner, referring to people who claimed to tell the future by such methods as casting lots and examining the livers of certain animals.

The Servant of the Lord

42 “Here is my servant,(A) whom I uphold,
    my chosen one(B) in whom I delight;(C)
I will put my Spirit(D) on him,
    and he will bring justice(E) to the nations.(F)
He will not shout or cry out,(G)
    or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed(H) he will not break,(I)
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.(J)
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;(K)
    he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice(L) on earth.
    In his teaching(M) the islands(N) will put their hope.”(O)

This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,(P) who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth(Q) with all that springs from it,(R)
    who gives breath(S) to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called(T) you in righteousness;(U)
    I will take hold of your hand.(V)
I will keep(W) you and will make you
    to be a covenant(X) for the people
    and a light(Y) for the Gentiles,(Z)
to open eyes that are blind,(AA)
    to free(AB) captives from prison(AC)
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.(AD)

“I am the Lord;(AE) that is my name!(AF)
    I will not yield my glory to another(AG)
    or my praise to idols.(AH)
See, the former things(AI) have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce(AJ) them to you.”

Song of Praise to the Lord

10 Sing(AK) to the Lord a new song,(AL)
    his praise(AM) from the ends of the earth,(AN)
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,(AO)
    you islands,(AP) and all who live in them.
11 Let the wilderness(AQ) and its towns raise their voices;
    let the settlements where Kedar(AR) lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela(AS) sing for joy;
    let them shout from the mountaintops.(AT)
12 Let them give glory(AU) to the Lord
    and proclaim his praise(AV) in the islands.(AW)
13 The Lord will march out like a champion,(AX)
    like a warrior(AY) he will stir up his zeal;(AZ)
with a shout(BA) he will raise the battle cry
    and will triumph over his enemies.(BB)

14 “For a long time I have kept silent,(BC)
    I have been quiet and held myself back.(BD)
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
    I cry out, I gasp and pant.(BE)
15 I will lay waste(BF) the mountains(BG) and hills
    and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
    and dry up(BH) the pools.
16 I will lead(BI) the blind(BJ) by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light(BK) before them
    and make the rough places smooth.(BL)
These are the things I will do;
    I will not forsake(BM) them.
17 But those who trust in idols,
    who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’(BN)
    will be turned back in utter shame.(BO)

Israel Blind and Deaf

18 “Hear, you deaf;(BP)
    look, you blind, and see!
19 Who is blind(BQ) but my servant,(BR)
    and deaf like the messenger(BS) I send?
Who is blind like the one in covenant(BT) with me,
    blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention;
    your ears are open, but you do not listen.”(BU)
21 It pleased the Lord
    for the sake(BV) of his righteousness
    to make his law(BW) great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered(BX) and looted,
    all of them trapped in pits(BY)
    or hidden away in prisons.(BZ)
They have become plunder,
    with no one to rescue them;(CA)
they have been made loot,
    with no one to say, “Send them back.”

23 Which of you will listen to this
    or pay close attention(CB) in time to come?
24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,
    and Israel to the plunderers?(CC)
Was it not the Lord,(CD)
    against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow(CE) his ways;
    they did not obey his law.(CF)
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,(CG)
    the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames,(CH) yet they did not understand;(CI)
    it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.(CJ)

Israel’s Only Savior

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created(CK) you, Jacob,
    he who formed(CL) you, Israel:(CM)
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed(CN) you;
    I have summoned you by name;(CO) you are mine.(CP)
When you pass through the waters,(CQ)
    I will be with you;(CR)
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,(CS)
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.(CT)
For I am the Lord your God,(CU)
    the Holy One(CV) of Israel, your Savior;(CW)
I give Egypt(CX) for your ransom,
    Cush[a](CY) and Seba(CZ) in your stead.(DA)
Since you are precious and honored(DB) in my sight,
    and because I love(DC) you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid,(DD) for I am with you;(DE)
    I will bring your children(DF) from the east
    and gather(DG) you from the west.(DH)
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south,(DI) ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters(DJ) from the ends of the earth(DK)
everyone who is called by my name,(DL)
    whom I created(DM) for my glory,(DN)
    whom I formed and made.(DO)

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,(DP)
    who have ears but are deaf.(DQ)
All the nations gather together(DR)
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold(DS) this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are my witnesses,(DT)” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant(DU) whom I have chosen,
so that you may know(DV) and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god(DW) was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.(DX)
11 I, even I, am the Lord,(DY)
    and apart from me there is no savior.(DZ)
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god(EA) among you.
You are my witnesses,(EB)” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13     Yes, and from ancient days(EC) I am he.(ED)
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”(EE)

God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

14 This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(EF) the Holy One(EG) of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and bring down as fugitives(EH) all the Babylonians,[b](EI)
    in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord,(EJ) your Holy One,
    Israel’s Creator,(EK) your King.(EL)

16 This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters,(EM)
17 who drew out(EN) the chariots and horses,(EO)
    the army and reinforcements together,(EP)
and they lay(EQ) there, never to rise again,
    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:(ER)
18 “Forget the former things;(ES)
    do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!(ET)
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness(EU)
    and streams in the wasteland.(EV)
20 The wild animals(EW) honor me,
    the jackals(EX) and the owls,
because I provide water(EY) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people I formed(EZ) for myself(FA)
    that they may proclaim my praise.(FB)

22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied(FC) yourselves for[c] me, Israel.(FD)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,(FE)
    nor honored(FF) me with your sacrifices.(FG)
I have not burdened(FH) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands(FI) for incense.(FJ)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus(FK) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat(FL) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied(FM) me with your offenses.(FN)

25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,(FO) for my own sake,(FP)
    and remembers your sins(FQ) no more.(FR)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;(FS)
    state the case(FT) for your innocence.
27 Your first father(FU) sinned;
    those I sent to teach(FV) you rebelled(FW) against me.
28 So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction[d](FX)
    and Israel to scorn.(FY)

Israel the Chosen

44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,(FZ)
    Israel, whom I have chosen.(GA)
This is what the Lord says—
    he who made(GB) you, who formed you in the womb,(GC)
    and who will help(GD) you:
Do not be afraid,(GE) Jacob, my servant,(GF)
    Jeshurun,[e](GG) whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water(GH) on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;(GI)
I will pour out my Spirit(GJ) on your offspring,
    and my blessing(GK) on your descendants.(GL)
They will spring up like grass(GM) in a meadow,
    like poplar trees(GN) by flowing streams.(GO)
Some will say, ‘I belong(GP) to the Lord’;
    others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,(GQ) ‘The Lord’s,’(GR)
    and will take the name Israel.

The Lord, Not Idols

“This is what the Lord says—
    Israel’s King(GS) and Redeemer,(GT) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;(GU)
    apart from me there is no God.(GV)
Who then is like me?(GW) Let him proclaim it.
    Let him declare and lay out before me
what has happened since I established my ancient people,
    and what is yet to come—
    yes, let them foretell(GX) what will come.
Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
    Did I not proclaim(GY) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God(GZ) besides me?
    No, there is no other Rock;(HA) I know not one.”

All who make idols(HB) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.(HC)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;(HD)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.(HE)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,(HF)
    which can profit nothing?(HG)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;(HH)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.(HI)

12 The blacksmith(HJ) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.(HK)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.(HL)
13 The carpenter(HM) 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,(HN)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.(HO)
14 He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,(HP) and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel(HQ) 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(HR) it;
    he makes an idol and bows(HS) down to it.
16 Half 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.(HT)
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.(HU)
He prays(HV) to it and says,
    “Save(HW) me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand(HX) nothing;
    their eyes(HY) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding(HZ) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(IA)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(IB) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(IC)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(ID) a deluded(IE) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(IF)

21 “Remember(IG) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.(IH)
I have made you, you are my servant;(II)
    Israel, I will not forget you.(IJ)
22 I have swept away(IK) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return(IL) to me,
    for I have redeemed(IM) you.”

23 Sing for joy,(IN) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth(IO) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,(IP)
    you forests and all your trees,(IQ)
for the Lord has redeemed(IR) Jacob,
    he displays his glory(IS) in Israel.

Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

24 “This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,(IT) who formed(IU) you in the womb:(IV)

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,(IW)
    who spreads out the earth(IX) by myself,
25 who foils(IY) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,(IZ)
who overthrows the learning of the wise(JA)
    and turns it into nonsense,(JB)
26 who carries out the words(JC) of his servants
    and fulfills(JD) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,(JE) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,(JF) ‘I will restore them,’(JG)
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up(JH) your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus,(JI) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,(JJ) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,(JK) “Let its foundations(JL) be laid.”’

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:3 That is, the upper Nile region
  2. Isaiah 43:14 Or Chaldeans
  3. Isaiah 43:22 Or Jacob; / surely you have grown weary of
  4. Isaiah 43:28 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  5. Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.