IsaiahChapter 44
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1"But now listen, Jacob, my servant.
Listen, Israel, whom I have chosen. 2This is what the LORD says.
He made you and formed you in the womb.
He will help you.
"Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant.
Do not be afraid, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3For I will pour water on the thirsty land.
I will pour streams on the dry ground.
I will pour out my Spirit on your children.
I will pour out my blessing on those who come after you. 4They will spring up among the grass,
like willow trees by flowing streams. 5One will say, 'I belong to the LORD.'
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob.
Another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's.'
He will take the name of Israel." 6This is what the LORD says,
the King of Israel and the one who redeems it,
the LORD of Hosts:
"I am the first, and I am the last.
There is no God but me. 7Who then is like me? Let him say so!
Let him lay out his case before me,
since I set up an ancient people.
Let him tell what will come
and what is going to happen. 8Do not shake with fear.
Do not be afraid.
Didn't I tell you about this long ago?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any God but me?
There is no other Rock.
I don't know of any." 9All who make idols are nothing.
The things they love are worth nothing.
The ones who speak up for idols are blind.
They do not understand,
so they will be put to shame. 10Who would shape a god or pour metal into an idol
that cannot help him at all? 11Look, all who join with him will be put to shame,
for the workers who make idols are only human.
Let them all gather and take their stand.
They will all be terrified and ashamed. 12The blacksmith takes a tool
and works over the hot coals.
He shapes an idol with hammers.
He pounds it out with his strong arms.
But he gets hungry and loses his strength.
He drinks no water and grows weak. 13The woodworker stretches out a measuring line.
He marks the wood with a pen.
He shapes it with chisels.
He marks it with a compass.
He makes it look like a man,
like a man in all his beauty.
Then it can live in a shrine. 14He cuts down cedars.
Or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow. 15Then people use it for fuel.
He takes some of the wood to warm himself.
He lights a fire and bakes his bread.
He also makes it into a god and worships it.
He makes an idol and bows down to it. 16He burns half of the wood in the fire.
On that half he roasts meat.
He eats the roast and is full.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm. I see the fire." 17From the rest he makes a god, his carved idol.
He bows down to it and worships it.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me, for you are my god." 18They do not know or understand,
for he has shut their eyes so they cannot see.
He has closed their minds so they cannot understand. 19No one stops to think about it.
No one has the knowledge or sense to say,
"I burned half of it in the fire.
I baked bread on its coals.
I roasted meat and ate it.
Should I make something disgusting with the rest?
Should I bow down to a block of wood?" 20He feeds on ashes.
His fooled heart has led him the wrong way.
He cannot save himself.
He cannot say, "Isn't this thing in my right hand a lie?" 21"Remember these things, Jacob,
for you are my servant, Israel.
I made you, and you are my servant.
Israel, I will never forget you. 22I have wiped away your wrongs like a cloud.
I have wiped away your sins like the morning mist.
Come back to me, for I have redeemed you." 23Sing for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done this.
Shout out loud, you depths of the earth.
Burst into song, you mountains,
you forests and all your trees.
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob.
He has shown his glory in Israel. 24This is what the LORD says,
your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
"I am the LORD, who made all things.
I alone stretched out the skies.
I spread out the earth by myself. 25I make the signs of false prophets fail.
I make fools of those who tell the future.
I confuse the wise.
I turn what they know into nonsense. 26I make the message of my servant come true.
I carry out the plans of my messengers.
I say of Jerusalem, 'People will live in her again.'
I say of the towns of Judah, 'They will be rebuilt.
I will build up their ruins again.' 27I say to the deep sea, 'Be dry.
I will dry up your streams.' 28I say of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd.
He will do all that I want.'
I say of Jerusalem, 'She will be rebuilt.'
I say of the temple, 'Let its foundation be laid.'"