Isaiah 43:1–28
43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who createdv you, Jacob,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemedy you;
I have summoned you by name;z you are mine.a
2 When you pass through the waters,b
I will be with you;c
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,d
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.e
3 For I am the Lord your God,f
the Holy Oneg of Israel, your Savior;h
I give Egypti for your ransom,
Cusha j and Sebak in your stead.l
4 Since you are precious and honoredm in my sight,
and because I loven you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid,o for I am with you;p
I will bring your childrenq from the east
and gatherr you from the west.s
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south,t ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughtersu from the ends of the earthv—
7 everyone who is called by my name,w
whom I createdx for my glory,y
whom I formed and made.z”
8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,a
who have ears but are deaf.b
9 All the nations gather togetherc
and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretoldd this
and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are my witnesses,e” declares the Lord,
“and my servantf whom I have chosen,
so that you may knowg and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no godh was formed,
nor will there be one after me.i
11 I, even I, am the Lord,j
and apart from me there is no savior.k
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign godl among you.
You are my witnesses,m” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient daysn I am he.o
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”p
God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness
14 This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer,q the Holy Oner of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitivess all the Babylonians,b t
in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord,u your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator,v your King.w”
16 This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,x
17 who drew outy the chariots and horses,z
the army and reinforcements together,a
and they layb there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:c
18 “Forget the former things;d
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!e
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wildernessf
and streams in the wasteland.g
20 The wild animalsh honor me,
the jackalsi and the owls,
because I provide waterj in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formedk for myselfl
that they may proclaim my praise.m
22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
you have not weariedn yourselves forc me, Israel.o
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,p
nor honoredq me with your sacrifices.r
I have not burdeneds you with grain offerings
nor wearied you with demandst for incense.u
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamusv for me,
or lavished on me the fatw of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
and weariedx me with your offenses.y
25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions,z for my own sake,a
and remembers your sinsb no more.c
let us argue the matter together;d
state the casee for your innocence.
27 Your first fatherf sinned;
those I sent to teachg you rebelledh against me.
28 So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
I consigned Jacob to destructiond i
and Israel to scorn.j