43
1 But
now the LORD
who created you,
Jacob,
and he who
formed you, Israel,
says:
“Don’t be afraid,
for I have
redeemed you.
I have called
you by your
name.
You are mine.
2 When
you pass through
the waters, I
will be with
you,
and through the
rivers, they will
not overflow you.
When you walk
through the fire,
you will not
be burned,
and flame will
not scorch you.
3 For
I am the
LORD your God,
the Holy One
of Israel,
your Savior.
I have given
Egypt as your
ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba
in your place.
4 Since you
have been precious
and honored in
my sight,
and I have loved
you,
therefore I will
give people in
your place,
and nations
instead of your
life.
5 Don’t be
afraid, for I am
with you.
I will bring your
offspring from the
east,
and gather you
from the west.
6 I
will tell the
north, ‘Give them
up!’
and tell the
south, ‘Don’t hold
them back!
Bring my sons
from far away,
and my daughters
from the ends
of the earth—
7 everyone
who is called
by my name,
and whom I
have created for
my glory,
whom I have
formed,
yes, whom I have
made.’ ”
8 Bring
out the blind
people who have
eyes,
and the deaf
who have ears.
9 Let
all the nations
be gathered
together,
and let the
peoples be
assembled.
Who among them
can declare this,
and show us
former things?
Let them bring
their witnesses,
that they may
be justified,
or let them
hear, and say, “That
is true.”
10 “You
are my witnesses,”
says the LORD,
“With my servant
whom I have
chosen;
that you may
know and believe
me,
and understand
that I am
he.
Before me there
was no God
formed,
neither will
there be after
me.
11 I myself
am the LORD.
Besides me, there
is no savior.
12 I
have declared, I
have saved, and
I have shown,
and there was no
strange god among
you.
Therefore you are
my witnesses”,
says the LORD, “and
I am God.
13 Yes,
since the day
was, I am he.
There is no
one who can
deliver out of
my hand.
I will work,
and who can
hinder it?”
14 The
LORD, your
Redeemer, the Holy
One of Israel
says: “For your
sake, I have
sent to Babylon,
and I will
bring all of
them down as
fugitives, even
the Chaldeans, in
the ships of their
rejoicing.
15 I
am the LORD,
your Holy One,
the Creator of
Israel, your King.”
16 The
LORD, who makes
a way in
the sea,
and a path
in the mighty
waters,
17 who brings
out the chariot
and horse,
the army and
the mighty man
(they lie down
together, they
shall not rise;
they are extinct,
they are quenched
like a wick) says:
18 “Don’t
remember the
former things,
and don’t consider
the things of
old.
19 Behold,
I will do
a new thing.
It springs out
now.
Don’t you know it?
I will even
make a way
in the wilderness,
and rivers in
the desert.
20 The
animals of the
field, the jackals
and the ostriches,
shall honor me,
because I give
water in the
wilderness and
rivers in the
desert,
to give drink
to my people,
my chosen,
21 the
people which I
formed for myself,
that they might
declare my praise.
22 Yet
you have not
called on me,
Jacob;
but you have
been weary of
me, Israel.
23 You
have not brought
me any of
your sheep for
burnt offerings,
neither have you
honored me with
your sacrifices.
I have not
burdened you with
offerings,
nor wearied you
with frankincense.
24 You
have bought me
no sweet cane
with money,
nor have you
filled me with
the fat of
your sacrifices,
but you have
burdened me with
your sins.
You have wearied
me with your
iniquities.
25 I,
even I, am he
who blots out your
transgressions for
my own sake;
and I will
not remember your
sins.
26 Put
me in remembrance.
Let us plead
together.
Declare your case,
that you may
be justified.
27 Your
first father sinned,
and your teachers
have transgressed
against me.
28 Therefore I
will profane the
princes of the
sanctuary;
and I will
make Jacob a
curse,
and Israel
an insult.”