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16 This is what the Lord says,
the one who made a road through the sea,
a pathway through the surging waters,
17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction,[a]
together with a mighty army.
They fell down,[b] never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
18 “Don’t remember these earlier events;[c]
don’t recall these former events.

19 Look, I am about to do something new.
Now it begins to happen![d] Do you not recognize[e] it?
Yes, I will make a road in the wilderness
and paths[f] in the wastelands.
20 The wild animals[g] honor me,
the jackals and ostriches,
because I put water in the wilderness
and streams in the wastelands,
to quench the thirst of my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself,
so they might praise me.[h]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “led out chariots and horses.” The words “to destruction” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
  2. Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”
  3. Isaiah 43:18 tn Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”
  4. Isaiah 43:19 tn Heb “sprouts up”; NASB “will spring forth.”
  5. Isaiah 43:19 tn Or “know” (KJV, ASV); NASB “be aware of”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “perceive.”
  6. Isaiah 43:19 tn The Hebrew text has “streams,” probably under the influence of v. 20. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has נתיבות (“paths”).
  7. Isaiah 43:20 tn Heb “animals of the field.”
  8. Isaiah 43:21 tn Heb “[so] they might declare my praise.”

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.(A)
21 
“The people whom I formed for Myself
Will make known My praise.

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