1 The Redemption of Israel But now, thus says Yahweh, your Creator, O Jacob,And He who formed you, O Israel,“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by 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 scorched,Nor will the flame burn you.
3 “For I am Yahweh your God,The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;I have given Egypt as your ransom, 43:3Or Cush, cf. Gen 10:6 Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 “Since you are precious in My sight,Sinceyou are honored and I love you,I will giveothermen in your place andotherpeoples in exchange for your life.
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you;I will bring your seed from the east,And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Givethemup!’And to the south, ‘Do not holdthemback.’Bring My sons from afarAnd 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, even whom I have made.”Israel Is Yahweh’s Witness
8 ¶Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,And the deaf, even though they have ears.
9 All the nations have gathered togetherSo that the peoples may be assembled.Who among them can declare thisAnd make us hear the former things?Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified,Or let them hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are My witnesses,” declares Yahweh,“And My servant whom I have chosen,So that you may know and believe MeAnd understand that I am He.Before Me there was no god formed,And there will be none after Me.
11 “I, even I, am Yahweh,And there is no savior besides Me.
12 “It is I who have declared and saved and causeditto be heard,And there was no strangegodamong you;So you are My witnesses,” declares Yahweh,“And I am God.
13 “Even 43:13As in Gr; Heb from the day from eternity I am He,And there is none who can deliver out of My hand;I act and who can reverse it?”Rivers in the Wasteland
14 Thus says Yahweh your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,“For your sake I have sent to Babylon,And will bring down those who fled—all of them, 43:14Or As for the Chaldeans, their rejoicing is turned into lamentations Even the Chaldeans—into the ships 43:14Lit of their rejoicing in which they shouted for joy.
15 “I am Yahweh, your Holy One,The Creator of Israel, your King.”
16 Thus says Yahweh,Who makes a way through the seaAnd a path through the mighty waters,
17 Who brings forth the chariot and the horse,The military force and the mighty man;They will lie down togetherandnot rise again;They have been extinguishedandquenched like a wick:
18 “Do not remember the former things,Nor carefully consider things of the past.
19 “Behold, I will do something new;Now it will spring forth;Will you not know it?I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,Rivers in the wasteland.
20 “The beasts of the field will glorify Me,The jackals and the ostriches,Because I have given waters in the wildernessAnd rivers in the wasteland,To give drink to My chosen people.
21 “The people whom I formed for MyselfWill recount My praise.
22 ¶“Yet you have not called on Me, O Jacob;But you have become weary of Me, O Israel.
23 “You have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,Nor have you glorified Me with your sacrifices.I have not burdened you with 43:23Or a meal offering offerings,Nor wearied you with frankincense.
24 “You have not bought Me 43:24Or calamus sweet cane with money,Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;Rather you have burdened Me with your sins;You have wearied Me with your iniquities.
25 ¶“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,And I will not remember your sins.
26 “ 43:26Or Report to Me Bring Me to remembrance, let us enter into judgment together;Recount yourcause, that you may be proved right.
27 “Your first father sinned,And your 43:27Or interpreters spokesmen have 43:27Or rebelled transgressed against Me.
28 “So I will 43:28Or pierce through profane the 43:28Or holy princes princes of the sanctuary,And I will give Jacob to be devoted to destruction and Israel to revilement.