1 No God Besides Yahweh “But now hear, O Jacob, My servant,And Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Thus says Yahweh who made youAnd formed you from the womb, who will help you,‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
3 ‘For I will pour out water on 44:3Or him who is thirsty the thirstygroundAnd streams on the dry land;I will pour out My Spirit on your seedAnd My blessing on your offspring;
4 And they will spring up 44:4Or like grass among the waters among the grassLike poplars by streams of water.’
5 “This one will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s’;And this one 44:5Or will be called by the name of Jacob will call on the name of Jacob;And this one will write 44:5Or with onhis hand, ‘Belonging to Yahweh,’And will name Israel’s name with honor.
6 “Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts:‘I am the first, and I am the last,And there is no God besides Me.
7 ‘Who is like Me? Let him call out and declare it;And let him tell it to Me in order, 44:7Lit From My establishing of From the time that I established the ancient 44:7Or nation people.And let them declare to them the things that are to comeAnd the events that are going to take place.
8 ‘Do not be in dread and do not be afraid;Have I not long since causeditto be heard to you and declaredit?And you are My witnesses.Is there any God besides Me,Or is there anyotherRock?I know of none.’ ”The Futility of Idolatry
9 Those who form 44:9Or an idol a graven image are all of them 44:9Lit formless futile, and their desirable things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.
10 Who has formed a god or cast a graven image to no profit?
11 Behold, all his companions will be put to shame. The craftsmen themselves are mere men. Let them all assemble themselves, let them stand up, let them be in dread, let them together be put to shame.
12 The man crafts iron into a cutting tool and does his work over the coals, 44:12Lit and forms forming it with hammers and working it with his powerful arm. He also gets hungry and has no power; he drinks no water and becomes weary.
13 Anothercrafts wood, he extends a measuring line; he outlines it with 44:13Or red chalk a stylus. He makes it with planes and outlines it with a compass and makes it like the form of a man, like the glory of man, so that it may sit in a house.
14 In order to cut cedars for himself, he takes a 44:14Or holm-oak cypress or an oak and 44:14Lit makes strong raisesitfor himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir, and the rain makes it grow.
15 Then it becomessomethingfor a man to burn, so he takes one of them and warms himself; he also kindles a fire to bake bread. He also worksto producea god and worships it; he makes it a graven image and falls down before it.
16 Half of it he burns in the fire; overthishalf he eats meat as he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm; I have seen the fire.”
17 But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.”
18 They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they will have no insight.
19 No one causesthisto return to his heart, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eatit. Then 44:19Or shall I make...? I make the rest of it into an abomination; 44:19Or shall I fall...? I fall down before a block of wood!”
20 He 44:20Or is a companion of ashes feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver his soul, and he cannot say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”Yahweh Forgives and Redeems
21 ¶“Remember these things, O Jacob,And Israel, for you are My servant;I have formed you, you are My servant;O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.
22 “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloudAnd your sins like a cloud.Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
23 Shout for joy, O heavens, for Yahweh has doneit!Make a loud shout, you lower parts of the earth;Break forth into a shout of joy, you mountains,O forest, and every tree in it;For Yahweh has redeemed JacobAnd in Israel He shows forth His beautiful glory.
24 Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,“I, Yahweh, am the maker of all things,Stretching out the heavens by MyselfAnd spreading out the earth 44:24Or who was with Me? all alone,
25 Causing the 44:25Lit signs omens of boasters to be annulled,And 44:25Lit He makes making fools out of diviners,Causing wise men to turn back,And 44:25Lit He makes making foolishness out of their knowledge,
26 Confirming the word of His servant—And the counsel of His messengers He will complete—And beingthe One who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited!’And of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built.’And I will raise up her waste placesagain.
27 “It is Iwho says to the depth of the sea, ‘Be dried up!’And I will make your rivers dry.
28 “It is Iwho says of Cyrus, ‘He isMy shepherd!And all My good pleasure he will complete.’And saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’And of the temple, ‘ 44:28Lit You will be founded Your foundation will be laid.’ ”