Isaiah 43:16-21
New English Translation
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]
Footnotes
- 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.
- Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”
- Isaiah 43:18 tn Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”
- Isaiah 43:19 tn Heb “sprouts up”; NASB “will spring forth.”
- Isaiah 43:19 tn Or “know” (KJV, ASV); NASB “be aware of”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “perceive.”
- Isaiah 43:19 tn The Hebrew text has “streams,” probably under the influence of v. 20. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has נתיבות (“paths”).
- Isaiah 43:20 tn Heb “animals of the field.”
- Isaiah 43:21 tn Heb “[so] they might declare my praise.”
Isaiah 43:16-21
International Standard Version
Something New for Israel
16 This is what the Lord says —
who makes a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17 who brings out chariots and horsemen,
and[a] armies and warriors at the same time.
They lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a candle:[b]
18 “Don’t remember[c] the former things;
don’t dwell on things past.
19 Watch! I’m about to carry out something new!
And[d] now it’s springing up—
don’t you recognize it?
I’m making a way in the wilderness
and paths[e] in the desert.
20 Wild animals, jackals, and owls[f] will honor me
because I provide[g] water in the desert
and streams in the wilderness
to give drink to my people, my chosen ones,[h]
21 the people whom I formed for myself
and[i] so that they may speak[j] my praise.”
Footnotes
- Isaiah 43:17 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks and
- Isaiah 43:17 Lit. linen wick
- Isaiah 43:18 1QIsaa employs second person sing.; MT LXX employ second person pl.
- Isaiah 43:19 So 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks And
- Isaiah 43:19 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read streams
- Isaiah 43:20 Or ostriches
- Isaiah 43:20 So 1QIsaa; MT reads have provided
- Isaiah 43:20 So 1QIsaa; MT reads my chosen people
- Isaiah 43:21 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsag lacks my chosen ones
- Isaiah 43:21 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsag MT LXX read recount
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