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

26 Review the past for me,

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