Israel Freed

12 “Listenc to me, Jacob,

Israel, whom I have called:d

I am he;e

I am the first and I am the last.f

13 My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,g

and my right hand spread out the heavens;h

when I summon them,

they all stand up together.i

14 “Come together,j all of you, and listen:

Which of the idols has foretoldk these things?

The Lord’s chosen allyl

will carry out his purposem against Babylon;n

his arm will be against the Babylonians.a

15 I, even I, have spoken;

yes, I have calledo him.

I will bring him,

and he will succeedp in his mission.

16 “Come nearq me and listenr to this:

“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;s

at the time it happens, I am there.”

And now the Sovereign Lordt has sentu me,

endowed with his Spirit.v

17 This is what the Lord says—

your Redeemer,w the Holy Onex of Israel:

“I am the Lord your God,

who teachesy you what is best for you,

who directsz you in the waya you should go.

18 If only you had paid attentionb to my commands,

your peacec would have been like a river,d

your well-beinge like the waves of the sea.

19 Your descendantsf would have been like the sand,g

your children like its numberless grains;h

their name would never be blotted outi

nor destroyed from before me.”

20 Leave Babylon,

fleej from the Babylonians!

Announce this with shouts of joyk

and proclaim it.

Send it out to the ends of the earth;l

say, “The Lord has redeemedm his servant Jacob.”