Isaiah 43

1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art Mine.

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!

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

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.

3 For I am the LORD thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

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.

4 Since thou art precious in My sight, and honourable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee, and peoples for thy life.

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.

5 Fear not, for I am with thee; I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

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 say to the north: 'Give up,' and to the south: 'Keep not back, bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the end of the earth;

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—

7 Every one that is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made him.'

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

8 The blind people that have eyes shall be brought forth, and the deaf that have ears.

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

9 All the nations are gathered together, and the peoples are assembled; who among them can declare this, and announce to us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; and let them hear, and say: 'It is truth.'

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.”

10 Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall any be after Me.

“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.

11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside Me there is no saviour.

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

12 I have declared, and I have saved, and I have announced, and there was no strange god among you; therefore ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and I am God.

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.

13 Yea, since the day was I am He, and there is none that can deliver out of My hand; I will work, and who can reverse it?

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

14 Thus saith the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their shouting.

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.

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

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

16 Thus saith the LORD, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

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

17 Who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power — they lie down together, they shall not rise, they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick:

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:

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

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

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

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.

20 The beasts of the field shall honour Me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, Mine elect;

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.

21 The people which I formed for Myself, that they might tell of My praise.

The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

22 Yet thou hast not called upon Me, O Jacob, neither hast thou wearied thyself about Me, O Israel.

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

23 Thou hast not brought Me the small cattle of thy burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honoured Me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with a meal-offering, nor wearied thee with frankincense.

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.

24 Thou hast bought Me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou satisfied Me with the fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast burdened Me with thy sins, thou hast wearied Me with thine iniquities.

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.

25 I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake; and thy sins I will not remember.

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

26 Put Me in remembrance, let us plead together; declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

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

27 Thy first father sinned, and thine intercessors have transgressed against Me.

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

28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and I have given Jacob to condemnation, and Israel to reviling.

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