Esajas 44
1 Men hør nu, Jakob, min Tjener, Israel, hvem jeg har udvalgt:
Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Så siger HERREN, som skabte dig og fra Moders Liv danned dig, din Hjælper: Frygt ikke, min Tjener Jakob, Jesjurun, hvem jeg har udvalgt!
Thus says the LORD that made you, and formed you from the womb, which will help you; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and you, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
3 Thi jeg udgyder Vand på det tørstende, Strømme på det tørre Land, udgyder min Ånd på din Æt, min Velsignelse over dit Afkom;
For I will pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground: I will pour my spirit on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring:
4 de skal spire som Græs mellem Vande, som Pile ved Bækkenes Løb.
And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
5 En skal sige: "Jeg er HERRENs", en kalde sig med Jakobs Navn, en skrive i sin Hånd: "For HERREN!" og tage sig Israels Navn.
One shall say, I am the LORD’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand to the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.
6 Så siger HERREN, Israels Konge, dets Genløser, Hærskarers HERRE: Jeg er den første og den sidste, uden mig er der ingen Gud.
Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
7 Hvo der er min Lige, træde frem, forkynde og godtgøre for mig: Hvo kundgjorde fra Urtid det kommende? De forkynde os, hvad der skal ske!
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show to them.
8 Ræddes og ængstes ikke! Har ej længst jeg kundgjort og sagt det? I er mine Vidner: Er der Gud uden mig, er der vel anden Klippe? Jeg ved ikke nogen.
Fear you not, neither be afraid: have not I told you from that time, and have declared it? you are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yes, there is no God; I know not any.
9 De, der laver Gudebilleder, er alle intet, og deres kære Guder gavner intet; deres Vidner ser intet og kender intet, at de må blive til Skamme.
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
10 Når nogen laver en Gud og støber et Billede, er det ingen Gavn til;
Who has formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11 se, alle dets Tilbedere bliver til Skamme; Mestrene er jo kun Mennesker lad dem samles til Hobe og træde frem, de skal alle som een forfærdes og blive til Skamme.
Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
12 En smeder Jern til en Økse og arbejder ved Kulild, tildanner den med Hamre og gør den færdig med sin stærke Arm; får han ikke Mad, afkræftes han, og får han ikke Vand at drikke, bliver han træt.
The smith with the tongs both works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with the strength of his arms: yes, he is hungry, and his strength fails: he drinks no water, and is faint.
13 Så fælder ban Træer, udspænder Målesnoren, tegner Billedet med Gravstikken, skærer det ud med Kniven og sætter det af med Cirkelen; han laver det efter en Mands Skikkelse, efter menneskelig Skønhed, til at stå i et Hus.
The carpenter stretches out his rule; he marks it out with a line; he fits it with planes, and he marks it out with the compass, and makes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.
14 Han fældede sig Cedre, tog Elm og Eg og arbejdede af al sin Kraft på Skovens Træer, som Gud havde plantet og Regnen givet Vækst.
He hews him down cedars, and takes the cypress and the oak, which he strengthens for himself among the trees of the forest: he plants an ash, and the rain does nourish it.
15 Det tjener et Menneske til Brændsel, han tager det og varmer sig derved; han sætter Ild i det og bager Brød - og desuden laver han en Gud deraf og tilbeder den, han gør et Gudebillede deraf og knæler for det.
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread; yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it a graven image, and falls down thereto.
16 Halvdelen brænder han i Ilden, og over Gløderne steger han Kød; han spiser Stegen og mættes; og han varmer sig derved og siger: "Ah, jeg bliver varm, jeg mærker Ilden" -
He burns part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eats flesh; he roasts roast, and is satisfied: yes, he warms himself, and says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17 og af Resten laver han en Gud, et Billede; han knæler for det, kaster sig ned og beder til det og siger: "Frels mig, thi du er min Gud!"
And the residue thereof he makes a god, even his graven image: he falls down to it, and worships it, and prays to it, and says, Deliver me; for you are my god.
18 De skønner ikke, de fatter ikke, thi deres Øjne er lukket, så de ikke ser, og deres Hjerter, så de ikke skønner.
They have not known nor understood: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19 De tænker ikke over det, de har ikke Indsigt og Forstand til at sige sig selv: "Halvdelen brændte jeg i Bålet, over Gløderne bagte jeg Brød, stegte Kød og spiste; skulde jeg da af Resten gøre en Vederstyggelighed? Skulde jeg knæle for en Træklods?"
And none considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yes, also I have baked bread on the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
20 Den, som tillægger Aske Værd, ham har et vildfarende Hjerte dåret; han redder ikke sin Sjæl, så han siger: "Er det ikke en Løgn, jeg har i min højre Hånd?"
He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
21 Jakob, kom dette i Hu, Israel, thi du er min Tjener! Jeg skabte dig, du er min Tjener, ej skal du glemmes, Israel;
Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you are my servant: I have formed you; you are my servant: O Israel, you shall not be forgotten of me.
22 jeg sletted som Tåge din Misgerning og som en Sky dine Synder. Vend om til mig, thi jeg genløser dig!
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 Jubler, I Himle, thi HERREN greb ind, fryd jer, I Jordens Dybder, bryd ud i Jubel, I Bjerge, Skoven og alle dens Træer, thi HERREN genløser Jakob og herliggør sig ved Israel.
Sing, O you heavens; for the LORD has done it: shout, you lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
24 Så siger HERREN, din Genløser, som danned dig fra Moders Liv: Jeg er HERREN, som skabte alt, som ene udspændte Himlen, udbredte Jorden, hvo hjalp mig?
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I am the LORD that makes all things; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by myself;
25 som tilintetgør Løgnernes Tegn og gør Spåmænd til Dårer, som tvinger de vise tilbage, beskæmmer deres Lærdom,
That frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes diviners mad; that turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
26 stadfæster sine Tjeneres Ord, fuldbyrder sine Sendebuds Råd, Jeg siger om Jerusalem: "Det skal bebos!" om Judas Byer: "de skal bygges!" Ruinerne rejser jeg atter!
That confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; that says to Jerusalem, You shall be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
27 Jeg siger til Dybet: "Bliv tørt, dine Floder gør jeg tørre!"
That says to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers:
28 Jeg siger om Kyros: "Min Hyrde, som fuldbyrder al min Vilje!" Jeg siger om Jerusalem: "Det skal bygges!" om Templet: "Det skal grundes "
That says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built; and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.
