Isaiah 43

1 Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!

But now this is what the Lord says to Jacob, the one who created you; to Israel, the one who formed you: “Don't be afraid! I have saved you! I have called you by name; you are mine!

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.

When you walk through the water, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they won't flood over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you on fire.

3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place.

For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt to pay for your freedom; I traded Ethiopia and Seba for you.

4 Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life.

Because you are so valuable to me, because I honor you, and because I love you, I give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your lives.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west.

Don't be afraid, for I am with you! I will bring you and your children from the east and the west, and gather you together.

6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth—

I will tell the north, ‘Hand them over!’ and the south, ‘Don't stop them!’ Bring my sons back from far away and my daughters from distant lands.

7 everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”

Bring back everyone who bears my name, those I created for my honor, those I formed and made.

8 Bring out a people who have eyes but are blind, and who have ears but are deaf.

Bring back those who have eyes but are blind, those who have ears but are deaf.

9 All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

Have all the nations gather together! Have all the peoples assemble! Who among them could have said this, and predict what was going to happen? Have them bring their witnesses to prove that they're right. Then have them listen, and say, ‘It's true!’

10 “You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come.

However, you are my witnesses, the Lord declares, and my chosen servant, so that you can think about it, and believe me and understand that I am God. No god preceded me, and none will come after me.

11 I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no Savior but Me.

I, yes I am the Lord, and there is no Savior apart from me.

12 I alone decreed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. So you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.

I predicted what was going to happen, then I saved you, then I announced it—there was no foreign god among you that did this. You are my witnesses that I am God, declares the Lord.

13 Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”

I am God from the beginning. No one can snatch anybody from my hand. No one can reverse what I do.

14 Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake, I will send to Babylon and bring them all as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.

This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: For your sake I will send attackers against Babylon and bring them down. All the Babylonians will be like fugitives, escaping in the ships they're so proud of.

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, and your King.”

I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, and your King.

16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the surging waters,

This is what the Lord says, the one who makes a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters;

17 who brings out the chariots and horses, the armies and warriors together, to lie down, never to rise again; to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

the one who brought out a great army with it horses and chariots and lay them down, never to rise again, snuffed out like a burning wick.

18 “Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.

But don't dwell on the past; don't concentrate on what happened back then.

19 Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Just look at something new I'm going to do now! In fact it's started already. Can't you see it? Yes, I'm making a way through the wilderness, rivers in the desert!

20 The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.

The wild animals will be grateful to me, the jackals and the owls, because I'm providing water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, so my people, my chosen people, can drink.

21 The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

I made this people for myself so that through their praise for me they could make me known.

22 But you have not called on Me, O Jacob, because you have grown weary of Me, O Israel.

But you haven't called on me for help, Jacob. You've grown tired of me, Israel.

23 You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.

You haven't brought me sheep for burnt offerings; you haven't honored me with your sacrifices. I haven't burdened you by asking for grain offerings; I haven't tired you out by demanding incense.

24 You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver, nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

You haven't used your money to buy scented calamus; you have not pleased me with the fat of your sacrifices. Instead you have burdened me with your sins, and tired me out with your guilt.

25 I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

I, yes I am the God who wipes out your sins because of who I am, and who doesn't remember your sins any more.

26 Remind Me, let us argue the matter together. State your case, so that you may be vindicated.

Remind me of the evidence so we can come to a decision together! Present your case to prove that you're right!

27 Your first father sinned, and your spokesmen rebelled against Me.

Your very first father sinned, and your leaders rebelled against me.

28 So I will disgrace the princes of your sanctuary, and I will devote Jacob to destruction and Israel to reproach.”

So I treated the priests of the sanctuary with contempt, and I handed Jacob over to be destroyed, and Israel to be scorned.”