Isaiah 48:3–8

³“Long ago I told you ahead of time what would happen.

I announced it and made it known.

Then all of a sudden I acted.

And those things took place.

⁴I knew how stubborn you were.

Your neck was as unbending as iron.

Your forehead was as hard as bronze.

⁵So I told you those things long ago.

Before they happened I announced them to you.

I did it so you would not be able to say,

‘My statues of gods did them.

My wooden and metal gods made them happen.’

⁶You have heard me tell you those things.

Think about all of them.

Won’t you admit they have taken place?

“From now on I will tell you about new things that will happen.

I have not made them known to you before.

⁷Those things are taking place right now.

They did not happen long ago.

You have not heard of them before today.

So you can’t say,

‘Oh, yes. I already knew about them.’

⁸You have not heard or understood what I said.

Your ears have been plugged up for a long time.

I knew very well that you would turn against me.

From the day you were born, you have refused to obey me.