1"But nowlisten,O Jacob,My servant,And Israel,whom I have chosen:
2Thussaysthe LORDwho madeyou And formedyou from the womb,who will helpyou, 'Do not fear,O JacobMy servant;And you Jeshurunwhom I have chosen.
3For I will pourout wateron the thirsty[land] And streamson the dryground;I will pourout My Spiriton your offspringAnd My blessingon your descendants;
4And they will springup amongthe grassLike poplarsby streamsof water.'
5"Thisonewill say,'I am the LORD'S;And that onewill callon the nameof Jacob;And anotherwill write[on] his hand,'Belonging to the LORD,'And will nameIsrael'snamewith honor.
6"Thussaysthe LORD,the Kingof Israeland his Redeemer,the LORDof hosts:I am the firstand I am the last,And thereis noGodbesidesMe.
7Whois likeMe? Let him proclaimand declareit; Yes, let him recountit to Me in order,From the time that I establishedthe ancientnation.And let them declareto them the thingsthat are comingAnd the events that are going to takeplace.
8Do not trembleand do not be afraid;Have I not longsinceannounced[it] to you and declared[it]? And you are My witnesses.Is thereanyGodbesidesMe, Or is thereany [other] Rock?I knowof none.'"
9Those who fashiona gravenimageare allof them futile,and their preciousthingsare of noprofit;even their own witnessesfailto seeor know,sothat they will be putto shame.10Whohas fashioneda godor castan idolto noprofit?11Behold,allhis companionswill be putto shame,for the craftsmenthemselvesare meremen.Let them allassemblethemselves, let them standup, let them tremble,let them togetherbe putto shame.
12The man shapesironinto a cuttingtooland doeshis workover the coals,fashioningit with hammersand workingit with his strongarm.He alsogetshungryand his strengthfails;he drinksnowaterand becomesweary.13[Another] shapeswood,he extendsa measuringline;he outlinesit with red chalk.He worksit with planesand outlinesit with a compass,and makesit like the formof a man,like the beautyof man,so that it may sitin a house.14Surely he cutscedarsfor himself, and takesa cypressor an oakand raises[it] for himself among the treesof the forest.He plantsa fir,and the rainmakesit grow.15Then it becomes[something] for a manto burn,so he takesone of them and warmshimself; he alsomakesa fireto bakebread.He alsomakesa godand worshipsit; he makesit a gravenimageand fallsdownbefore it.16Halfof it he burnsin the fire;over[this] halfhe eatsmeatas he roastsa roastand is satisfied.He alsowarmshimself and says,"Aha!I am warm,I have seenthe fire."17But the restof it he makesinto a god,his gravenimage.He fallsdownbefore it and worships;he also praysto it and says,"Deliverme, for you are my god."
18They do not know,nordo they understand,for He has smearedovertheir eyessothat they cannotseeand their heartssothat they cannotcomprehend.19Noone recalls,noris there knowledgeor understandingto say,"I have burnedhalfof it in the fireand alsohave bakedbreadoverits coals.I roastmeatand eat[it]. Then I makethe restof it into an abomination,I falldownbefore a blockof wood!"20He feedson ashes;a deceivedhearthas turnedhim aside.And he cannotdeliverhimself,norsay,"Is there not a liein my righthand?"
21"Rememberthesethings,O Jacob,And Israel,for you are My servant;I have formedyou, you are My servant,O Israel,you will not be forgottenby Me.
22"I have wipedout your transgressionslike a thickcloudAnd your sinslike a heavymist.Returnto Me, for I have redeemedyou."
23Shoutfor joy,O heavens,for the LORDhas done[it]! Shoutjoyfully,you lowerpartsof the earth;Breakforthinto a shoutof joy,you mountains,O forest,and everytreein it; For the LORDhas redeemedJacobAnd in IsraelHe showsforth His glory.
24Thussaysthe LORD,your Redeemer,and the one who formedyou from the womb,"I, the LORD,am the makerof allthings,Stretchingout the heavensby MyselfAnd spreadingout the earthallalone,
25Causing the omensof boastersto fail,Makingfoolsout of diviners,Causing wisemento drawbackAnd turningtheir knowledgeinto foolishness,
26Confirmingthe wordof His servantAnd performingthe purposeof His messengers.[It is I] who saysof Jerusalem,'She shall be inhabited!'And of the citiesof Judah,They shall be built.'And I will raiseup her ruins[again].
27"[It is I] who saysto the depthof the sea,'Be driedup!' And I will makeyour riversdry.
28"[It is I] who saysof Cyrus,'[He is] My shepherd!And he will performallMy desire.'And he declaresof Jerusalem,She will be built,'And of the temple,Your foundationwill be laid.'"
