Isaiah 48:8–11

You have never heard, you have never known,

from of old your ear has not been opened.

For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously,

and that from before birth you were called a rebel.

“For my name’s sake I defer my anger;

for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,

that I may not cut you off.

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,

for how should my name be profaned?

My glory I will not give to another.

You have neither heard nor understood;

from of old your ears have not been open.

Well do I know how treacherous you are;

you were called a rebel from birth.

For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath;

for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,

so as not to destroy you completely.

See, I have refined you, though not as silver;

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.

How can I let myself be defamed?

I will not yield my glory to another.

You have never heard; you have never known;

for a long time your ears have not been open.

For I knew that you were very treacherous,

and were known as a rebel from birth.

I will delay my anger for the sake of my name,

and I will restrain myself for your benefit and for my praise,

so that you will not be destroyed.

Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;

I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

I will act for my own sake, indeed, my own,

for how can I be defiled?

I will not give my glory to another.

“Yes, I will tell you of things that are entirely new,

things you never heard of before.

For I know so well what traitors you are.

You have been rebels from birth.

Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name,

I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out.

I have refined you, but not as silver is refined.

Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.

I will rescue you for my sake—

yes, for my own sake!

I will not let my reputation be tarnished,

and I will not share my glory with idols!

Neither have you heard, nor have you known,

nor from of old has your ear been opened.

For I knew you would deal treacherously, very treacherously,

and you are called a rebel from the womb.

For the sake of my name I refrain from my anger,

and for my praise I restrain it for you

so as not to cut you off.

Look! I have refined you, but not like silver;

I have chosen you in the furnace of misery.

For my own sake, for my own sake I do it;

for why should it be defiled?

And I will not give my glory to another.”

Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not;

Yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened:

For I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously,

And wast called a transgressor from the womb.

For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger,

And for my praise will I refrain for thee,

That I cut thee not off.

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver;

I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it:

For how should my name be polluted?

And I will not give my glory unto another.