Isaiah 43

1 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!

But now this is what Yahweh says, he who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.

2 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.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned, and the flames will not destroy you.

3 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.

For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4 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.

Since you are precious and special in my sight, I love you; therefore I will give people in exchange for you, and other peoples in exchange for your life.

5 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.

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

6 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.

I will say to the north, 'Hand them over;' and to the south, 'Do not hold any back;' Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,

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

everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.

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

Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, and the deaf, even though they have ears.

9 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!’

All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them could have declared this and announced to us earlier events? Let them bring their witnesses to prove themselves right, let them listen and affirm, 'It is true.'

10 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.

You are my witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe in me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no god formed, and there will be none after me.

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

I, I am Yahweh, and there is no savior but me.

12 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.

I have declared, saved, and proclaimed, and there is no other god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “I am God.

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

From this day on I am he, and no one can rescue anyone from my hand. I act, and who can turn it back?”

14 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.

This is what Yahweh says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon and lead them all down as fugitives, turning the Babylonians' expressions of joy into songs of lamentation.

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

I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

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

This is what Yahweh says (who opened a way through the sea and a path in the mighty waters,

17 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.

who led out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty host. They fell down together; they will never rise again; they are extinguished, quenched like a burning wick.)

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

“Do not think about these former things, nor consider the things of long ago.

19 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!

Look, I am about to do a new thing; now it begins to happen; do you not perceive it? I will make a road in the desert and streams of water in the wilderness.

20 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.

The wild animals of the field will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give water in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, for my chosen people to drink,

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

this people whom I formed for myself, that they might recount my praises.

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

But you have not called on me, Jacob; you have become tired of me, Israel.

23 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.

You have not brought me any of your sheep as burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings, nor wearied you with demands for incense.

24 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.

You have bought me no sweet-smelling cane with money, neither have you poured out to me the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened me with your sins, you have wearied me with your evil deeds.

25 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.

I, yes, I, am he who blots out your offenses for my own sake; and I will not call to mind your sins any longer.

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

Remind me of what happened. Let us debate together; present your cause, that you may be proved innocent.

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

Your first father sinned, and your leaders have transgressed against me.

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

Therefore I will defile the holy officials; I will hand Jacob over to complete destruction, and Israel to abusive humiliation.”