Chapter 44
1 Yet listen now , Jacob my servant , and Israel , whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the LORD who made you , and formed you from the womb, who will help you says : "Don’t be afraid , Jacob my servant ; and you , Jeshurun , whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty , and streams on the dry ground . I will pour my Spirit on your descendants , and my blessing on your offspring ;
4 and they will spring up amongst the grass , as willows by the watercourses.
5 One will say , ‘ I am the LORD ’s.’ Another will be called by the name of Jacob ; and another will write with his hand ‘ to the LORD ,’ and honour the name of Israel ."
6 This is what the LORD , the King of Israel , and his Redeemer , the LORD of Armies , says : " I am the first , and I am the last; and besides me there is no God .
7 Who is like me ? Who will call , and will declare it , and set it in order for me , since I established the ancient people ? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.
8 Don’t fear , neither be afraid . Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it ? You are my witnesses . Is there a God besides me ? Indeed , there is not . I don’t know any other Rock ."
9 Everyone who makes a carved image is vain . The things that they delight in will not profit . Their own witnesses don’t see , nor know , that they may be disappointed.
10 Who has fashioned a god , or moulds an image that is profitable for nothing ?
11 Behold , all his fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere men . Let them all be gathered together . Let them stand up . They will fear . They will be put to shame together .
12 The blacksmith takes an axe , works in the coals , fashions it with hammers , and works it with his strong arm . He is hungry , and his strength fails; he drinks no water , and is faint .
13 The carpenter stretches out a line . He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes . He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house .
14 He cuts down cedars for himself , and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one amongst the trees of the forest . He plants a cypress tree , and the rain nourishes it .
15 Then it will be for a man to burn ; and he takes some of it and warms himself . Yes, he burns it and bakes bread . Yes, he makes a god and worships it ; he makes it a carved image , and falls down to it .
16 He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it , he eats meat . He roasts a roast and is satisfied . Yes , he warms himself and says, " Aha ! I am warm . I have seen the fire."
17 The rest of it he makes into a god, even his engraved image . He bows down to it and worships , and prays to it , and says, " Deliver me , for you are my god!"
18 They don’t know , neither do they consider , for he has shut their eyes , that they can ’t see , and their hearts , that they can ’t understand .
19 No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say , " I have burnt part of it in the fire . Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals . I have roasted meat and eaten it . Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination ? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?"
20 He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside ; and he can ’t deliver his soul , nor say, "Isn’t there a lie in my right hand ?"
21 Remember these things , Jacob and Israel , for you are my servant . I have formed you . You are my servant . Israel , you will not be forgotten by me .
22 I have blotted out , as a thick cloud , your transgressions , and , as a cloud , your sins . Return to me , for I have redeemed you .
23 Sing , you heavens , for the LORD has done it ! Shout , you lower parts of the earth ! Break out into singing , you mountains , O forest , all of your trees , for the LORD has redeemed Jacob , and will glorify himself in Israel .
24 The LORD , your Redeemer , and he who formed you from the womb says : " I am the LORD , who makes all things ; who alone stretches out the heavens ; who spreads out the earth by myself;
25 who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad ; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish ;
26 who confirms the word of his servant , and performs the counsel of his messengers ; who says of Jerusalem , ‘ She will be inhabited ;’ and of the cities of Judah , ‘ They will be built ,’ and ‘ I will raise up its waste places ;’
27 who says to the deep , ‘Be dry ,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers ,’
28 who says of Cyrus , ‘ He is my shepherd , and shall perform all my pleasure ,’ even saying of Jerusalem , ‘She will be built ;’ and of the temple , ‘ Your foundation will be laid .’"