⁸ Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes,^(O)
and are deaf, yet have ears.
⁹ All the nations are gathered together,
and the peoples are assembled.^(P)
Who among them can declare this,^(Q)
and tell us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses
to vindicate themselves,
so that people may hear and say, “It is true.”
¹⁰ “You are My witnesses”^(R)—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“and My servant whom I have chosen,^(S)
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.^(T)
No god was formed before Me,
and there will be none after Me.^(U)
11 I, I am Yahweh,
and there is no other Savior but Me.^(V)
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—
and not some foreign god^[a] among you.
So you are My witnesses”—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“and^[b] I am God.^(W)
13 Also, from today on I am He alone,
and none can deliver from My hand.^(X)
I act, and who can reverse it?”^(Y)

Because of you, I will send to Babylon
and bring all of them as fugitives,^[c]
even the Chaldeans^(AB) in the ships in which they rejoice.^[d]
15 I am Yahweh, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says—
who makes a way in the sea,
and a path through surging waters,^(AC)
17 who brings out the chariot and horse,^(AD)
the army and the mighty one together
(they lie down, they do not rise again;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick^(AE))—
¹⁸ “Do not remember the past events,
pay no attention to things of old.^(AF)
19 Look, I am about to do something new;^(AG)
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,^(AH)
rivers^[e] in the desert.
²⁰ The animals of the field will honor Me,
jackals and ostriches,
because I provide water in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,^(AI)
to give drink to My chosen people.
²¹ The people I formed for Myself
will declare My praise.^(AJ)

²² “But Jacob, you have not called on Me,
because, Israel, you have become weary of Me.^(AK)
23 You have not brought Me your sheep for burnt offerings
or honored Me with your sacrifices.^(AL)
I have not burdened you with offerings
or wearied you with incense.^[f]
24 You have not bought Me aromatic cane with silver,
or satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened Me with your sins;
you have wearied Me^(AM) with your iniquities.^(AN)

²⁵ “It is I who sweep away your transgressions^(AO)
for My own sake^(AP)
and remember your sins no more.^(AQ)
26 Take Me to court; let us argue our case together.^(AR)
State your case, so that you may be vindicated.
²⁷ Your first father sinned,^(AS)
and your mediators have rebelled against Me.^(AT)
28 So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary,
and set Jacob apart for destruction^(AU)
and Israel for abuse.

I am the first and I am the last.^(AZ)
There is no God but Me.^(BA)
7 Who, like Me, can announce the future?
Let him say so and make a case before Me,^(BB)
since I have established an ancient people.
Let these gods declare^[j] the coming things,
and what will take place.
⁸ Do not be startled or afraid.
Have I not told you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!^(BC)
Is there any God but Me?^(BD)
There is no other Rock;^(BE) I do not know any.

⁹ All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure does not profit.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.^(BF)
10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image
for no profit?^(BG)
11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame,
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.

¹² The ironworker labors over the coals,
shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
¹³ The woodworker stretches out a measuring line,
he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human likeness,^(BH)
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
¹⁴ He cuts down^[k] cedars for his use,
or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
¹⁵ It serves as fuel for man.
He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
¹⁶ He burns half of it in a fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
¹⁷ He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.
He bows down to it and worships;
He prays to it,^(BI) “Save me, for you are my god.”
¹⁸ Such people^[l] do not comprehend
and cannot understand,
for He has shut their eyes^[m] so they cannot see,
and their minds so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one reflects,
no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
I will make something detestable^(BJ) with the rest of it,
and I will bow down to a block of wood.”
²⁰ He feeds on^[n] ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”^(BK)

²¹ Remember these things, Jacob,
and Israel, for you are My servant;
I formed you, you are My servant;
Israel, you will never be forgotten by Me.^[o](BL)
22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,^(BM)
and your sins like a mist.
Return to Me,^(BN)
for I have redeemed you.^(BO)
23 Rejoice, heavens,^(BP) for the Lord has acted;
shout, depths of the earth.
Break out into singing, mountains,
forest, and every tree in it.
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
and glorifies Himself through Israel.^(BQ)

I am Yahweh, who made everything;
who stretched out the heavens by Myself;^(BT)
who alone spread out the earth;
²⁵ who destroys the omens of the false prophets
and makes fools of diviners;
who confounds the wise
and makes their knowledge foolishness;^(BU)
26 who confirms the message of His servant
and fulfills the counsel of His messengers;
who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,”
and to the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt,”
and I will restore her ruins;
²⁷ who says to the depths of the sea, “Be dry,”
and I will dry up your rivers;
²⁸ who says to Cyrus,^(BV) “My shepherd,
he will fulfill all My pleasure”^(BW)
and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,”^(BX)
and of the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.”