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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.”

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.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:17 So 1QIsaa LXX; the Heb. lacks and
  2. Isaiah 43:17 Lit. linen wick
  3. Isaiah 43:18 1QIsaa employs second person sing.; MT LXX employ second person pl.
  4. Isaiah 43:19 So 1QIsaa; the Heb. lacks And
  5. Isaiah 43:19 So 1QIsaa; MT LXX read streams
  6. Isaiah 43:20 Or ostriches
  7. Isaiah 43:20 So 1QIsaa; MT reads have provided
  8. Isaiah 43:20 So 1QIsaa; MT reads my chosen people
  9. Isaiah 43:21 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsag lacks my chosen ones
  10. Isaiah 43:21 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsag MT LXX read recount