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Isaiah 44:6–23

The Lord, Not Idols

“This is what the Lord says—

Israel’s Kingd and Redeemer,e the Lord Almighty:

I am the first and I am the last;f

apart from me there is no God.g

Who then is like me?h Let him proclaim it.

Let him declare and lay out before me

what has happened since I established my ancient people,

and what is yet to come—

yes, let them foretelli what will come.

Do not tremble, do not be afraid.

Did I not proclaimj this and foretell it long ago?

You are my witnesses. Is there any Godk besides me?

No, there is no other Rock;l I know not one.”

All who make idolsm are nothing,

and the things they treasure are worthless.n

Those who would speak up for them are blind;o

they are ignorant, to their own shame.p

10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,q

which can profit nothing?r

11 People who do that will be put to shame;s

such craftsmen are only human beings.

Let them all come together and take their stand;

they will be brought down to terror and shame.t

12 The blacksmithu takes a tool

and works with it in the coals;

he shapes an idol with hammers,

he forges it with the might of his arm.v

He gets hungry and loses his strength;

he drinks no water and grows faint.w

13 The carpenterx measures with a line

and makes an outline with a marker;

he roughs it out with chisels

and marks it with compasses.

He shapes it in human form,y

human form in all its glory,

that it may dwell in a shrine.z

14 He cut down cedars,

or perhaps took a cypress or oak.

He let it grow among the trees of the forest,

or planted a pine,a and the rain made it grow.

15 It is used as fuelb for burning;

some of it he takes and warms himself,

he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

But he also fashions a god and worshipsc it;

he makes an idol and bowsd down to it.

16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;

over it he prepares his meal,

he roasts his meat and eats his fill.

He also warms himself and says,

“Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.e

17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;

he bows down to it and worships.f

He praysg to it and says,

“Saveh me! You are my god!”

18 They know nothing, they understandi nothing;

their eyesj are plastered over so they cannot see,

and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

19 No one stops to think,

no one has the knowledge or understandingk to say,

“Half of it I used for fuel;l

I even baked bread over its coals,

I roasted meat and I ate.

Shall I make a detestablem thing from what is left?

Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”n

20 Such a person feeds on ashes;o a deludedp heart misleads him;

he cannot save himself, or say,

“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?q

21 “Rememberr these things, Jacob,

for you, Israel, are my servant.s

I have made you, you are my servant;t

Israel, I will not forget you.u

22 I have swept awayv your offenses like a cloud,

your sins like the morning mist.

Returnw to me,

for I have redeemedx you.”

23 Sing for joy,y you heavens, for the Lord has done this;

shout aloud, you earthz beneath.

Burst into song, you mountains,a

you forests and all your trees,b

for the Lord has redeemedc Jacob,

he displays his gloryd in Israel.

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