Isaiah 43:14–21

This is what the Lord says—

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

“For your sake I will send to Babylon

and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians,

in the ships in which they took pride.

I am the Lord, your Holy One,

Israel’s Creator, your King.”

This is what the Lord says—

he who made a way through the sea,

a path through the mighty waters,

who drew out the chariots and horses,

the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

“Forget the former things;

do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland.

The wild animals honor me,

the jackals and the owls,

because I provide water in the wilderness

and streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to my people, my chosen,

the people I formed for myself

that they may proclaim my praise.

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

Because of you, I will send an army to Babylon

and bring all of them as fugitives,

even the Chaldeans in the ships in which they rejoice.

I am the Lord, your Holy One,

the Creator of Israel, your King.

This is what the Lord says—

who makes a way in the sea,

and a path through raging water,

who brings out the chariot and horse,

the army and the mighty one together

(they lie down, they do not rise again;

they are extinguished, put out like a wick)—

“Do not remember the past events;

pay no attention to things of old.

Look, I am about to do something new;

even now it is coming. Do you not see it?

Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert.

Wild animals—

jackals and ostriches—will honor me,

because I provide water in the wilderness,

and rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people.

The people I formed for myself

will declare my praise.

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

“For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon,

forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of.

I am the Lord, your Holy One,

Israel’s Creator and King.

I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters,

making a dry path through the sea.

I called forth the mighty army of Egypt

with all its chariots and horses.

I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,

their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.

“But forget all that—

it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.

For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

The wild animals in the fields will thank me,

the jackals and owls, too,

for giving them water in the desert.

Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland

so my chosen people can be refreshed.

I have made Israel for myself,

and they will someday honor me before the whole world.

Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer,

the holy one of Israel:

“For your sake I will send to Babylon,

and I will cause all of them to fall down as fugitives,

and the Chaldeans, their rejoicing on the ships.

I am Yahweh, your holy one,

the creator of Israel, your king.”

Thus says Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea

and a path in the mighty waters,

who brings out chariot and horse,

army and mighty one.

Together they lie down;

they cannot rise.

They are extinguished,

quenched like a wick.

“You must not remember the former things,

and you must not consider the former things.

Look! I am about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts!

Do you not perceive it?

Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert.

The animals of the field will honor me,

jackals and daughters of the ostrich,

for I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give a drink to my chosen people,

this people whom I formed for myself,

so they might make known my praise.

Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel;

For your sake I have sent to Babylon,

And have brought down all their nobles,

And the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

I am the Lord, your Holy One,

The creator of Israel, your King.

Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea,

And a path in the mighty waters;

Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power;

They shall lie down together, they shall not rise:

They are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

Remember ye not the former things,

Neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing;

Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

I will even make a way in the wilderness,

And rivers in the desert.

The beast of the field shall honour me,

The dragons and the owls:

Because I give waters in the wilderness,

And rivers in the desert,

To give drink to my people, my chosen.

This people have I formed for myself;

They shall shew forth my praise.