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Isaiah 42-46
Young's Literal Translation
Isaiah 42-46
Young's Literal Translation
42 Lo, My servant, I take hold on him, My chosen one -- My soul hath accepted, I have put My Spirit upon him, Judgment to nations he bringeth forth.
2 He doth not cry, nor lift up, Nor cause his voice to be heard, in the street.
3 A bruised reed he breaketh not, And dim flax he quencheth not, To truth he bringeth forth judgment.
4 He doth not become weak nor bruised, Till he setteth judgment in the earth, And for his law isles wait with hope.
5 Thus said God, Jehovah, preparing The heavens, and stretching them out, Spreading out the earth and its productions, Giving breath to the people on it, And spirit to those walking in it.
6 I, Jehovah, did call thee in righteousness, And I lay hold on thy hand, and keep thee, And I give thee for a covenant of a people, And a light of nations.
7 To open the eyes of the blind, To bring forth from prison the bound one, From the house of restraint those sitting in darkness.
8 I [am] Jehovah, this [is] My name, And Mine honour to another I give not, Nor My praise to graven images.
9 The former things, lo, have come, And new things I am declaring, Before they spring up I cause you to hear.
10 Sing to Jehovah a new song, His praise from the end of the earth, Ye who are going down to the sea, and its fulness, Isles, and their inhabitants.
11 The wilderness and its cities do lift up [the voice], The villages Kedar doth inhabit, Sing do the inhabitants of Sela, From the top of mountains they cry.
12 They ascribe to Jehovah honour, And His praise in the isles they declare.
13 Jehovah as a mighty one goeth forth. As a man of war He stirreth up zeal, He crieth, yea, He shrieketh, Against His enemies He showeth Himself mighty.
14 I have kept silent from of old, I keep silent, I refrain myself, As a travailing woman I cry out, I desolate and swallow up together.
15 I make waste mountains and hills, And all their herbs I dry up, And I have made rivers become isles, And ponds I dry up.
16 And I have caused the blind to go, In a way they have not known, In paths they have not known I cause them to tread, I make a dark place before them become light, And unlevelled places become a plain, These [are] the things I have done to them, And I have not forsaken them.
17 Removed backward -- utterly ashamed, Are those trusting in a graven image, Those saying to a molten image, `Ye [are] our gods.'
18 Ye deaf, hear; and ye blind, look to see.
19 Who [is] blind but My servant? And deaf as My messenger I send? Who [is] blind as he who is at peace, Yea, blind, as the servant of Jehovah?
20 Seeing many things, and thou observest not, Opening ears, and he heareth not.
21 Jehovah hath delight for the sake of His righteousness, He magnifieth law, and maketh honourable.
22 And this [is] a people seized and spoiled, Snared in holes -- all of them, And in houses of restraint they were hidden, They have been for a prey, And there is no deliverer, A spoil, and none is saying, `Restore.'
23 Who among you giveth ear [to] this? Attendeth, and heareth afterwards.
24 Who hath given Jacob for a spoil, And Israel to the spoilers? Is it not Jehovah -- He against whom we sinned? Yea, they have not been willing in His ways to walk, Nor have they hearkened to His law.
25 And He poureth on him fury, His anger, and the strength of battle, And it setteth him on fire round about, And he hath not known, And it burneth against him, and he layeth it not to heart!
43 And now, thus said Jehovah, Thy Creator, O Jacob, and thy Fashioner, O Israel, Be not afraid, for I have redeemed thee, I have called on thy name -- thou [art] Mine.
2 When thou passest into waters, I [am] with thee, And into floods, they do not overflow thee, When thou goest into fire, thou art not burnt, And a flame doth not burn against thee.
3 For I -- Jehovah thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour, I have appointed Egypt thine atonement, Cush and Seba in thy stead.
4 Since thou wast precious in Mine eyes, Thou wast honoured, and I have loved thee, And I appoint men in thy stead, And peoples instead of thy life.
5 Be not afraid, for I [am] with thee, From the east I bring in thy seed, And from the west I gather thee.
6 I am saying to the north, `Give up,' And to the south, `Restrain not.' Bring in My sons from afar, And My daughters from the end of the earth.
7 Every one who is called by My name, Even for My honour I have created him, I have formed him, yea, I have made him.
8 He brought out a blind people who have eyes, And deaf ones who have ears.
9 All the nations have been gathered together, And the peoples are assembled, Who among them declareth this, And former things causeth us to hear? They give their witnesses, And they are declared righteous, And they hear and say, `Truth.'
10 Ye [are] My witnesses, an affirmation of Jehovah, And My servant whom I have chosen, So that ye know and give credence to Me, And understand that I [am] He, Before Me there was no God formed, And after Me there is none.
11 I -- I [am] Jehovah, And besides Me there is no saviour.
12 I -- I declared, and saved, and proclaimed, And there is no stranger with you, And ye [are] My witnesses, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I [am] God.
13 Even from the day I [am] He, And there is no deliverer from My hand, I work, and who doth turn it back?
14 Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: `For your sake I have sent to Babylon, And caused bars to descend -- all of them, And the Chaldeans, whose song [is] in the ships.
15 I [am] Jehovah, your Holy One, Creator of Israel, your King.'
16 Thus said Jehovah, Who is giving in the sea a way, And in the strong waters a path.
17 Who is bringing forth chariot and horse, A force, even a strong one: `Together they lie down -- they rise not, They have been extinguished, As flax they have been quenched.'
18 Remember not former things, And ancient things consider not.
19 Lo, I am doing a new thing, now it springeth up, Do ye not know it? Yea, I put in a wilderness a way, In a desolate place -- floods.
20 Honour me doth the beast of the field, Dragons and daughters of an ostrich, For I have given in a wilderness waters, Floods in a desolate place, To give drink to My people -- My chosen.
21 This people I have formed for Myself, My praise they recount.
22 And Me thou hast not called, O Jacob, For thou hast been wearied of me, O Israel,
23 Thou hast not brought in to Me, The lamb of thy burnt-offerings, And [with] thy sacrifices thou hast not honoured Me, I have not caused thee to serve with a present, Nor wearied thee with frankincense.
24 Thou hast not bought for Me with money sweet cane, And [with] the fat of thy sacrifices hast not filled Me, Only -- thou hast caused Me to serve with thy sins, Thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.
25 I -- I [am] He who is blotting out Thy transgressions for Mine own sake, And thy sins I do not remember.
26 Cause me to remember -- we are judged together, Declare thou that thou mayest be justified.
27 Thy first father sinned, And thine interpreters transgressed against me,
28 And I pollute princes of the sanctuary, And I give Jacob to destruction, and Israel to revilings!
44 And now, hear, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have fixed on:
2 Thus said Jehovah, thy Maker, and thy Former, From the womb He doth help thee; Fear not, my servant Jacob, And Jeshurun, whom I have fixed on.
3 For I pour waters on a thirsty one, And floods on a dry land, I pour My Spirit on thy seed, And My blessing on thine offspring.
4 And they have sprung up as among grass, As willows by streams of water.
5 This [one] saith, For Jehovah I [am], And this calleth [himself] by the name of Jacob, And this [one] writeth [with] his hand, `For Jehovah,' and by the name of Israel surnameth himself.
6 Thus said Jehovah, king of Israel, And his Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts: `I [am] the first, and I the last, And besides Me there is no God.
7 And who as I, doth call and declare it, And arrange it for Me, Since My placing the people of antiquity, And things that are coming, And those that do come, declare they to them?
8 Fear not, nor be afraid, Have I not from that time caused thee to hear, and declared? And ye [are] My witnesses, Is there a God besides Me? yea, there is none, A Rock I have not known.
9 Framers of a graven image [are] all of them emptiness, And their desirable things do not profit, And their own witnesses they [are], They see not, nor know, that they may be ashamed.
10 Who hath formed a god, And a molten image poured out -- not profitable?
11 Lo, all his companions are ashamed, As to artizans -- they [are] of men, All of them gather together, they stand up, They fear, they are ashamed together.
12 He hath wrought iron [with] an axe, And hath wrought with coals, And with hammers doth form it, And doth work it by his powerful arm, Yea, he is hungry, and there is no power, He doth not drink water, and he is wearied.
13 He hath wrought [with] wood, He hath stretched out a rule, He doth mark it out with a line, He maketh it with carving tools, And with a compass he marketh it out, And maketh it according to the form of a man, According to the beauty of a man, To remain in the house.
14 Cutting down to himself cedars, He taketh also a cypress, and an oak, And he strengtheneth [it] for himself Among the trees of a forest, He hath planted an ash, and the shower doth nourish [it].
15 And it hath been for man to burn, And he taketh of them, and becometh warm, Yea, he kindleth [it], and hath baked bread, Yea, he maketh a god, and boweth himself, He hath made it a graven image, And he falleth down to it.
16 Half of it he hath burnt in the fire, By [this] half of it he eateth flesh, He roasteth a roasting, and is satisfied, Yea, he is warm, and saith: `Aha, I have become warm, I have enjoyed the light.
17 And its remnant for a god he hath made -- For his graven image, He falleth down to it, and worshippeth, And prayeth unto it, and he saith, `Deliver me, for my god thou [art].'
18 They have not known, nor do they understand, For He hath daubed their eyes from seeing, Their heart from acting wisely.
19 And none doth turn [it] back unto his heart, Nor hath knowledge nor understanding to say, `Half of it I have burned in the fire, Yea, also, I have baked bread over its coals, I roast flesh and I eat, And its remnant for an abomination I make, To the stock of a tree I fall down.'
20 Feeding on ashes, the heart is deceived, It hath turned him aside, And he delivereth not his soul, nor saith: `Is there not a lie in my right hand?'
21 Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, For My servant thou [art], I formed thee, a servant to Me thou [art], O Israel, thou dost not forget Me.
22 I have blotted out, as [by] a thick cloud, Thy transgressions, And as [by] a cloud thy sins, Return unto Me, for I have redeemed thee.
23 Sing, O heavens, for Jehovah hath wrought, Shout, O lower parts of earth, Break forth, O mountains, with singing, Forest, and every tree in it, For Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, And in Israel He doth beautify Himself.
24 Thus said Jehovah, thy redeemer, And thy framer from the womb: `I [am] Jehovah, doing all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, Spreading out the earth -- who [is] with Me?
25 Making void the tokens of devisers, And diviners it maketh mad, Turning the wise backward, And their knowledge it maketh foolish.
26 Confirming the word of His servant, The counsel of His messengers it perfecteth, Who is saying of Jerusalem, She is inhabited, And of cities of Judah, They shall be built, and her wastes I raise up,
27 Who is saying to the deep, Be dry, and thy rivers I cause to dry up,
28 Who is saying of Cyrus, My shepherd, And all my delight He doth perfect, So as to say of Jerusalem, Thou art built, And of the temple, Thou art founded.
45 Thus said Jehovah, To His anointed, to Cyrus, Whose right hand I have laid hold on, To subdue nations before him, Yea, loins of kings I loose, To open before him two-leaved doors, Yea, gates are not shut:
2 `I go before thee, and crooked places make straight, Two-leaved doors of brass I shiver, And bars of iron I cut asunder,
3 And have given to thee treasures of darkness, Even treasures of secret places, So that thou knowest that I, Jehovah, Who am calling on thy name -- [am] the God of Israel.
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob, And of Israel My chosen, I call also thee by thy name, I surname thee, And thou hast not known Me.
5 I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else, Except Me there is no God, I gird thee, and thou hast not known Me.
6 So that they know from the rising of the sun, And from the west, that there is none besides Me, I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else,
7 Forming light, and preparing darkness, Making peace, and preparing evil, I [am] Jehovah, doing all these things.'
8 Drop, ye heavens, from above, And clouds do cause righteousness to flow, Earth openeth, and they are fruitful, Salvation and righteousness spring up together, I, Jehovah, have prepared it.
9 Wo [to] him who is striving with his Former, (A potsherd with potsherds of the ground!) Doth clay say to its Framer, `What dost thou?' And thy work, `He hath no hands?'
10 Wo [to] him who is saying to a father, `What dost thou beget?' Or to a wife, `What dost thou bring forth?
11 Thus said Jehovah, The Holy One of Israel, and his Former: Ask Me of the things coming concerning My sons, Yea, concerning the work of My hands, ye command Me.'
12 I made earth, and man on it prepared, I -- My hands stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded.
13 I have stirred him up in righteousness, And all his ways I make straight, He doth build My city, and My captivity doth send out, Not for price, nor for bribe, said Jehovah of Hosts.
14 Thus said Jehovah, `The labour of Egypt, And the merchandise of Cush, And of the Sebaim -- men of measure, Unto thee pass over, and thine they are, After thee they go, in fetters they pass over, And unto thee they bow themselves, Unto thee they pray: Only in thee [is] God, And there is none else, no [other] God.
15 Surely Thou [art] a God hiding Thyself, God of Israel -- Saviour!
16 They have been ashamed, And they have even blushed -- all of them, Together gone in confusion have those carving images.
17 Israel hath been saved in Jehovah, A salvation age-during! Ye are not ashamed nor confounded Unto the ages of eternity!
18 For thus said Jehovah, Creator of heaven, He is God, Former of earth, and its Maker, He established it -- not empty He prepared it, For inhabiting He formed it: `I [am] Jehovah, and there is none else.
19 Not in secret have I spoken, in a dark place of the earth, I have not said to the seed of Jacob, In vain seek ye Me, I [am] Jehovah, speaking righteousness, Declaring uprightness.
20 Be gathered, and come in, Come nigh together, ye escaped of the nations, They have not known, Who are lifting up the wood of their graven image, And praying unto a god [that] saveth not.
21 Declare ye, and bring near, Yea, they take counsel together, Who hath proclaimed this from of old? From that time hath declared it? Is it not I -- Jehovah? And there is no other god besides Me, A God righteous and saving, there is none save Me.
22 Turn to Me, and be saved, all ends of the earth, For I [am] God, and there is none else.
23 By Myself I have sworn, Gone out from my mouth in righteousness hath a word, And it turneth not back, That to Me, bow doth every knee, every tongue swear.
24 Only in Jehovah, said hath one, Have I righteousness and strength, Unto Him he cometh in, And ashamed are all those displeased with Him.
25 In Jehovah are all the seed of Israel justified, And they boast themselves.'
46 Bowed down hath Bel, stooping is Nebo, Their idols have been for the beast and for cattle, Your burdens are loaded, a burden to the weary.
2 They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And themselves into captivity have gone.
3 Hearken unto Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of Israel, Who are borne from the belly, Who are carried from the womb,
4 Even to old age I [am] He, and to grey hairs I carry, I made, and I bear, yea, I carry and deliver.
5 To whom do ye liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
6 -- They are pouring out gold from a bag, And silver on the beam they weigh, They hire a refiner, and he maketh it a god, They fall down, yea, they bow themselves.
7 They lift him up on the shoulder, They carry him, and cause him to rest in his place, And he standeth, from his place he moveth not, Yea, one crieth unto him, and he answereth not, From his adversity he saveth him not.
8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.
9 Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God -- and there is none like Me.
10 Declaring from the beginning the latter end, And from of old that which hath not been done, Saying, `My counsel doth stand, And all My delight I do.'
11 Calling from the east a ravenous bird, From a far land the man of My counsel, Yea, I have spoken, yea, I bring it in, I have formed [it], yea, I do it.
12 Hearken unto Me, ye mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.
13 I have brought near My righteousness, It is not far off, And My salvation -- it doth not tarry, And I have given in Zion salvation, To Israel My glory!
Isaiah 42-46
New International Version
Isaiah 42-46
New International Version
The Servant of the Lord
42 “Here is my servant,(A) whom I uphold,
my chosen one(B) in whom I delight;(C)
I will put my Spirit(D) on him,
and he will bring justice(E) to the nations.(F)
2 He will not shout or cry out,(G)
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed(H) he will not break,(I)
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.(J)
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;(K)
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice(L) on earth.
In his teaching(M) the islands(N) will put their hope.”(O)
5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,(P) who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth(Q) with all that springs from it,(R)
who gives breath(S) to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called(T) you in righteousness;(U)
I will take hold of your hand.(V)
I will keep(W) you and will make you
to be a covenant(X) for the people
and a light(Y) for the Gentiles,(Z)
7 to open eyes that are blind,(AA)
to free(AB) captives from prison(AC)
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.(AD)
8 “I am the Lord;(AE) that is my name!(AF)
I will not yield my glory to another(AG)
or my praise to idols.(AH)
9 See, the former things(AI) have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce(AJ) them to you.”
Song of Praise to the Lord
10 Sing(AK) to the Lord a new song,(AL)
his praise(AM) from the ends of the earth,(AN)
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,(AO)
you islands,(AP) and all who live in them.
11 Let the wilderness(AQ) and its towns raise their voices;
let the settlements where Kedar(AR) lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela(AS) sing for joy;
let them shout from the mountaintops.(AT)
12 Let them give glory(AU) to the Lord
and proclaim his praise(AV) in the islands.(AW)
13 The Lord will march out like a champion,(AX)
like a warrior(AY) he will stir up his zeal;(AZ)
with a shout(BA) he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.(BB)
14 “For a long time I have kept silent,(BC)
I have been quiet and held myself back.(BD)
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
I cry out, I gasp and pant.(BE)
15 I will lay waste(BF) the mountains(BG) and hills
and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up(BH) the pools.
16 I will lead(BI) the blind(BJ) by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light(BK) before them
and make the rough places smooth.(BL)
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake(BM) them.
17 But those who trust in idols,
who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’(BN)
will be turned back in utter shame.(BO)
Israel Blind and Deaf
18 “Hear, you deaf;(BP)
look, you blind, and see!
19 Who is blind(BQ) but my servant,(BR)
and deaf like the messenger(BS) I send?
Who is blind like the one in covenant(BT) with me,
blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention;
your ears are open, but you do not listen.”(BU)
21 It pleased the Lord
for the sake(BV) of his righteousness
to make his law(BW) great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered(BX) and looted,
all of them trapped in pits(BY)
or hidden away in prisons.(BZ)
They have become plunder,
with no one to rescue them;(CA)
they have been made loot,
with no one to say, “Send them back.”
23 Which of you will listen to this
or pay close attention(CB) in time to come?
24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,
and Israel to the plunderers?(CC)
Was it not the Lord,(CD)
against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow(CE) his ways;
they did not obey his law.(CF)
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,(CG)
the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames,(CH) yet they did not understand;(CI)
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.(CJ)
Israel’s Only Savior
43 But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created(CK) you, Jacob,
he who formed(CL) you, Israel:(CM)
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed(CN) you;
I have summoned you by name;(CO) you are mine.(CP)
2 When you pass through the waters,(CQ)
I will be with you;(CR)
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,(CS)
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.(CT)
3 For I am the Lord your God,(CU)
the Holy One(CV) of Israel, your Savior;(CW)
I give Egypt(CX) for your ransom,
Cush[a](CY) and Seba(CZ) in your stead.(DA)
4 Since you are precious and honored(DB) in my sight,
and because I love(DC) you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid,(DD) for I am with you;(DE)
I will bring your children(DF) from the east
and gather(DG) you from the west.(DH)
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south,(DI) ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters(DJ) from the ends of the earth(DK)—
7 everyone who is called by my name,(DL)
whom I created(DM) for my glory,(DN)
whom I formed and made.(DO)”
8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,(DP)
who have ears but are deaf.(DQ)
9 All the nations gather together(DR)
and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold(DS) 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,(DT)” declares the Lord,
“and my servant(DU) whom I have chosen,
so that you may know(DV) and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god(DW) was formed,
nor will there be one after me.(DX)
11 I, even I, am the Lord,(DY)
and apart from me there is no savior.(DZ)
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god(EA) among you.
You are my witnesses,(EB)” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient days(EC) I am he.(ED)
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”(EE)
God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness
14 This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer,(EF) the Holy One(EG) of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitives(EH) all the Babylonians,[b](EI)
in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord,(EJ) your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator,(EK) your King.(EL)”
16 This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,(EM)
17 who drew out(EN) the chariots and horses,(EO)
the army and reinforcements together,(EP)
and they lay(EQ) there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:(ER)
18 “Forget the former things;(ES)
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!(ET)
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness(EU)
and streams in the wasteland.(EV)
20 The wild animals(EW) honor me,
the jackals(EX) and the owls,
because I provide water(EY) in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed(EZ) for myself(FA)
that they may proclaim my praise.(FB)
22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
you have not wearied(FC) yourselves for[c] me, Israel.(FD)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,(FE)
nor honored(FF) me with your sacrifices.(FG)
I have not burdened(FH) you with grain offerings
nor wearied you with demands(FI) for incense.(FJ)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus(FK) for me,
or lavished on me the fat(FL) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
and wearied(FM) me with your offenses.(FN)
25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions,(FO) for my own sake,(FP)
and remembers your sins(FQ) no more.(FR)
26 Review the past for me,
let us argue the matter together;(FS)
state the case(FT) for your innocence.
27 Your first father(FU) sinned;
those I sent to teach(FV) you rebelled(FW) against me.
28 So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
I consigned Jacob to destruction[d](FX)
and Israel to scorn.(FY)
Israel the Chosen
44 “But now listen, Jacob, my servant,(FZ)
Israel, whom I have chosen.(GA)
2 This is what the Lord says—
he who made(GB) you, who formed you in the womb,(GC)
and who will help(GD) you:
Do not be afraid,(GE) Jacob, my servant,(GF)
Jeshurun,[e](GG) whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water(GH) on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;(GI)
I will pour out my Spirit(GJ) on your offspring,
and my blessing(GK) on your descendants.(GL)
4 They will spring up like grass(GM) in a meadow,
like poplar trees(GN) by flowing streams.(GO)
5 Some will say, ‘I belong(GP) to the Lord’;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand,(GQ) ‘The Lord’s,’(GR)
and will take the name Israel.
The Lord, Not Idols
6 “This is what the Lord says—
Israel’s King(GS) and Redeemer,(GT) the Lord Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;(GU)
apart from me there is no God.(GV)
7 Who then is like me?(GW) 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 foretell(GX) what will come.
8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid.
Did I not proclaim(GY) this and foretell it long ago?
You are my witnesses. Is there any God(GZ) besides me?
No, there is no other Rock;(HA) I know not one.”
9 All who make idols(HB) are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.(HC)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;(HD)
they are ignorant, to their own shame.(HE)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,(HF)
which can profit nothing?(HG)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;(HH)
such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and shame.(HI)
12 The blacksmith(HJ) 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.(HK)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.(HL)
13 The carpenter(HM) 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,(HN)
human form in all its glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.(HO)
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,(HP) and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel(HQ) for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships(HR) it;
he makes an idol and bows(HS) 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.(HT)”
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.(HU)
He prays(HV) to it and says,
“Save(HW) me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand(HX) nothing;
their eyes(HY) 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 understanding(HZ) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(IA)
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(IB) thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(IC)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(ID) a deluded(IE) heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(IF)”
21 “Remember(IG) these things, Jacob,
for you, Israel, are my servant.(IH)
I have made you, you are my servant;(II)
Israel, I will not forget you.(IJ)
22 I have swept away(IK) your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return(IL) to me,
for I have redeemed(IM) you.”
23 Sing for joy,(IN) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
shout aloud, you earth(IO) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,(IP)
you forests and all your trees,(IQ)
for the Lord has redeemed(IR) Jacob,
he displays his glory(IS) in Israel.
Jerusalem to Be Inhabited
I am the Lord,
the Maker of all things,
who stretches out the heavens,(IW)
who spreads out the earth(IX) by myself,
25 who foils(IY) the signs of false prophets
and makes fools of diviners,(IZ)
who overthrows the learning of the wise(JA)
and turns it into nonsense,(JB)
26 who carries out the words(JC) of his servants
and fulfills(JD) the predictions of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem,(JE) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
and of their ruins,(JF) ‘I will restore them,’(JG)
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
and I will dry up(JH) your streams,’
28 who says of Cyrus,(JI) ‘He is my shepherd
and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,(JJ) “Let it be rebuilt,”
and of the temple,(JK) “Let its foundations(JL) be laid.”’
45 “This is what the Lord says to his anointed,(JM)
to Cyrus,(JN) whose right hand I take hold(JO) of
to subdue nations(JP) before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut:
2 I will go before you(JQ)
and will level(JR) the mountains[f];
I will break down gates(JS) of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.(JT)
3 I will give you hidden treasures,(JU)
riches stored in secret places,(JV)
so that you may know(JW) that I am the Lord,
the God of Israel, who summons you by name.(JX)
4 For the sake of Jacob my servant,(JY)
of Israel my chosen,
I summon you by name
and bestow on you a title of honor,
though you do not acknowledge(JZ) me.
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other;(KA)
apart from me there is no God.(KB)
I will strengthen you,(KC)
though you have not acknowledged me,
6 so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting(KD)
people may know(KE) there is none besides me.(KF)
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7 I form the light and create darkness,(KG)
I bring prosperity and create disaster;(KH)
I, the Lord, do all these things.
8 “You heavens above, rain(KI) down my righteousness;(KJ)
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation(KK) spring up,
let righteousness flourish with it;
I, the Lord, have created it.
9 “Woe to those who quarrel(KL) with their Maker,(KM)
those who are nothing but potsherds(KN)
among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,(KO)
‘What are you making?’(KP)
Does your work say,
‘The potter has no hands’?(KQ)
10 Woe to the one who says to a father,
‘What have you begotten?’
or to a mother,
‘What have you brought to birth?’
11 “This is what the Lord says—
the Holy One(KR) of Israel, and its Maker:(KS)
Concerning things to come,
do you question me about my children,
or give me orders about the work of my hands?(KT)
12 It is I who made the earth(KU)
and created mankind on it.
My own hands stretched out the heavens;(KV)
I marshaled their starry hosts.(KW)
13 I will raise up Cyrus[g](KX) in my righteousness:
I will make all his ways straight.(KY)
He will rebuild my city(KZ)
and set my exiles free,
but not for a price or reward,(LA)
says the Lord Almighty.”
14 This is what the Lord says:
“The products(LB) of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush,[h]
and those tall Sabeans(LC)—
they will come over to you(LD)
and will be yours;
they will trudge behind you,(LE)
coming over to you in chains.(LF)
They will bow down before you
and plead(LG) with you, saying,
‘Surely God is with you,(LH) and there is no other;
there is no other god.(LI)’”
15 Truly you are a God who has been hiding(LJ) himself,
the God and Savior(LK) of Israel.
16 All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgraced;(LL)
they will go off into disgrace together.
17 But Israel will be saved(LM) by the Lord
with an everlasting salvation;(LN)
you will never be put to shame or disgraced,(LO)
to ages everlasting.
18 For this is what the Lord says—
he who created the heavens,
he is God;
he who fashioned and made the earth,(LP)
he founded it;
he did not create it to be empty,(LQ)
but formed it to be inhabited(LR)—
he says:
“I am the Lord,
and there is no other.(LS)
19 I have not spoken in secret,(LT)
from somewhere in a land of darkness;(LU)
I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,(LV)
‘Seek(LW) me in vain.’
I, the Lord, speak the truth;
I declare what is right.(LX)
20 “Gather together(LY) and come;
assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant(LZ) are those who carry(MA) about idols of wood,
who pray to gods that cannot save.(MB)
21 Declare what is to be, present it—
let them take counsel together.
Who foretold(MC) this long ago,
who declared it from the distant past?(MD)
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no God apart from me,(ME)
a righteous God(MF) and a Savior;(MG)
there is none but me.
22 “Turn(MH) to me and be saved,(MI)
all you ends of the earth;(MJ)
for I am God, and there is no other.(MK)
23 By myself I have sworn,(ML)
my mouth has uttered in all integrity(MM)
a word that will not be revoked:(MN)
Before me every knee will bow;(MO)
by me every tongue will swear.(MP)
24 They will say of me, ‘In the Lord alone
are deliverance(MQ) and strength.(MR)’”
All who have raged against him
will come to him and be put to shame.(MS)
25 But all the descendants(MT) of Israel
will find deliverance(MU) in the Lord
and will make their boast in him.(MV)
Gods of Babylon
46 Bel(MW) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
their idols(MX) are borne by beasts of burden.[i]
The images that are carried(MY) about are burdensome,
a burden for the weary.
2 They stoop and bow down together;
unable to rescue the burden,
they themselves go off into captivity.(MZ)
3 “Listen(NA) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
all the remnant(NB) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,(NC)
and have carried(ND) since you were born.(NE)
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs(NF)
I am he,(NG) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain(NH) you and I will rescue you.
5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?(NI)
6 Some pour out gold from their bags
and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith(NJ) to make it into a god,
and they bow down and worship it.(NK)
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry(NL) it;
they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
From that spot it cannot move.(NM)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(NN)
it cannot save(NO) them from their troubles.
8 “Remember(NP) this, keep it in mind,
take it to heart, you rebels.(NQ)
9 Remember the former things,(NR) those of long ago;(NS)
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.(NT)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,(NU)
from ancient times,(NV) what is still to come.(NW)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,(NX)
and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon(NY) a bird of prey;(NZ)
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
what I have planned,(OA) that I will do.(OB)
12 Listen(OC) to me, you stubborn-hearted,(OD)
you who are now far from my righteousness.(OE)
13 I am bringing my righteousness(OF) near,
it is not far away;
and my salvation(OG) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,(OH)
my splendor(OI) to Israel.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 43:3 That is, the upper Nile region
- Isaiah 43:14 Or Chaldeans
- Isaiah 43:22 Or Jacob; / surely you have grown weary of
- Isaiah 43:28 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
- Isaiah 44:2 Jeshurun means the upright one, that is, Israel.
- Isaiah 45:2 Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
- Isaiah 45:13 Hebrew him
- Isaiah 45:14 That is, the upper Nile region
- Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.