The only Helper and Saviour in existence
43
📚✭But now thus says the LORDwho created you, O Jacob,
and he who formed you✭,
O Israel:
“Fear not✭,
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 flow over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be scorched,
nor will the flame burn you.
3 📚✭For I am the LORD
your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
your Saviour.
I gave Egypt as
your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba for you.
4 📚Since you were precious
in my sight,
you have been honoured,
and I have loved you.
Therefore I will give men for you,
and people for your life.
5 📚Fear not✭,
for I am with you.
I will bring your descendants
from the east,
and gather you from the west.
6 📚I will say to the north,
‘Give them up’,
and to the south,
‘Do not restrain them.’
Bring my sons from afar,
and my daughters from
the ends of the earth,
7 📚Each one who is called
by my name;
for I have created him
for my glory;
I have formed him,
yes, I have made him”.
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 people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
and tell us former things?
Let them bring forth their witnesses,
that they may be vindicated;
or let them listen,
and say, “It is the truth”.
10 📚✭“You are my witnesses,
says the LORD,
and 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,
nor will there be after me.
11 📚I, yes, I am the LORD,
and besides me there is no saviour.
12 📚I have declared,
and have saved,
and I have proclaimed,
when there was
no foreign god among you✭.
Therefore you are my witnesses,
says the LORD,
that I am God.
13 📚Yes, from the first day
I am he,
and there is no one
who can deliver out of my hand.
I will work,
and who can reverse it?”
Unfaithful Israel, God’s mercy
14 📚Thus says the LORD,
your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake✭ I will send to Babylon,
and bring down all their nobles,
and the Chaldeans,
whose shout is in the ships.
15 📚I am the LORD,
your Holy One✭,
the Creator of Israel, your King✭.
16 📚Thus says 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 power.
They will lie down together,
they will not rise.
They are extinguished,
quenched like a wick.
18 📚✭“Do not remember the former
things,
or consider the things of old.
19 📚See, I will do a new thing✭.
Now it will spring forth.
Do you not know it?
I will even make a way
in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert✭.
20 📚The beast of the field
will honour me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I give water
in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,
for my people, my chosen,
to drink.
21 📚✭This people I have formed
for myself.
They will show forth my praise.
22 📚✭“But you have not called
on me,
O Jacob, and you have been
weary of me, O Israel.
23 📚You have not brought me
the sheep for your burnt
offerings,
nor have you honoured me
with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you
with offerings,
or wearied you with incense.
24 📚You have bought me
no sweet cane with money,
nor have you satisfied me
with the fat of your sacrifices;
but you have burdened me
with your sins,
you have wearied✭ me
with your evil deeds.
25 📚I, yes, I am the one
who blots out✭ your transgressions
for my own sake✭,
and will not remember
your sins✭.
26 📚✭“Remind me – let us argue
the case together.
State your position,
so that you may be vindicated.
27 📚✭Your first father sinned,
and your teachers have
transgressed against me.
28 📚✭Therefore I will profane
the princes of the sanctuary,
and give Jacob to the curse,
and Israel to insults.