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The Lord Will Rescue His People

43 Now, this is what the Lord says,
the one who created you, O Jacob,
and formed you, O Israel:
“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect[a] you.
I call you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I am with you;
when you pass[b] through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not harm[c] you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,[d] your deliverer.
I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price,
Ethiopia and Seba[e] in place of you.
Since you are precious and special in my sight,[f]
and I love you,
I will hand over people in place of you,
nations in place of your life.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
From the east I will bring your descendants;
from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, ‘Hand them over!’
and to the south, ‘Don’t hold any back!’
Bring my sons from distant lands,
and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,
everyone who belongs to me,[g]
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed—yes, whom I made.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:1 tn Or “redeem.” See the note at 41:14. Cf. NCV “saved you”; CEV “rescued you”; NLT “ransomed you.”
  2. Isaiah 43:2 tn The verb is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  3. Isaiah 43:2 tn Heb “burn” (so NASB); NAB, NRSV, NLT “consume”; NIV “set you ablaze.”
  4. Isaiah 43:3 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
  5. Isaiah 43:3 sn Seba is not the same as Sheba in southern Arabia; cf. Gen 1:10; 1 Chr 1:9.
  6. Isaiah 43:4 tn Heb “Since you are precious in my eyes and you are honored.”
  7. Isaiah 43:7 tn Heb “everyone who is called by my name” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV).

God Is Always with His People

43 Now this is what the Lord says.
    He created you, ·people of Jacob [L Jacob];
    he formed you, ·people of Israel [L Israel].
He says, “Don’t be afraid, because I have ·saved [ransomed; redeemed] you.
    I have called you by name, and you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you [C as at the Red/or Reed Sea; Ex. 13–14].
    When you cross rivers, ·you will not drown [L they will not overflow you; C as when Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land; Josh. 3–4].
When you walk through fire, you will not be burned [Dan. 3:25–27],
    nor will the flames hurt you.
This is because I, the Lord, am your God,
    the Holy One of Israel [1:4], your Savior.
I gave Egypt ·to pay for you [for your ransom],
    and I gave ·Cush [Ethiopia] and Seba ·to make you mine [in place of you].
Because you are precious ·to me [L in my eyes],
    because I give you honor and love you,
I will give other people in your place;
    I will give other nations ·to save [in exchange for] your life.
Don’t be afraid, because I am with you.
    I will bring your ·children [descendants; offspring; seed] from the east
    and gather you from the west.
I will tell the north: Give my people to me.
    I will tell the south: Don’t ·keep my people in prison [or hold them back; restrain them].
Bring my sons from far away
    and my daughters from ·faraway places [L the end of the earth].
Bring to me all the people who are ·mine [L called by my name],
    whom I ·made [created] for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

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