Esias 43

1 And now thus says the Lord God that made you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you [by] your name; you are mine.

2 And if you pass through water, I am with you; and the rivers shall not overflow you: and if you go through fire, you shall not be burned; the flame shall not burn you.

3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, that saves you: I have made Egypt and Ethiopia your ransom, and [given] Soene for you.

4 Since you became precious in my sight, you have become glorious, and I have loved you: and I will give men for you, and princes for your life.

5 Fear not; for I am with you: I will bring your seed from the east, and will gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, Bring; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from the [land] afar off, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

7 [even] all who are called by my name: for I have prepared him for my glory, and I have formed him, and have made him:

8 and I have brought forth the blind people; for [their] eyes are alike blind, and they that have ears are deaf.

9 All the nations are gathered together, and princes shall be gathered out of them: who will declare these things? or who will declare to you things from the beginning? let them bring forth their witnesses, and be justified; and let them hear, and declare the truth.

10 Be you my witnesses, and I [too am] a witness, says the Lord God, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know, and believe, and understand that I am [he]: before me there was no other God, and after me there shall be none.

11 I am God; and beside me there is no Saviour.

12 I have declared, and have saved; I have reproached, and there was no strange [god] among you: you are my witnesses, and I am the Lord God,

13 even from the beginning; and there is none that can deliver out of my hands: I will work, and who shall turn it back?

14 Thus says the Lord God that redeems you, the Holy One of Israel; for your sakes I will send to Babylon, and I will stir up all that flee, and the Chaldeans shall be bound in ships.

15 I am the Lord God, your Holy One, who have appointed for Israel your king.

16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty water;

17 who brought forth chariots and horse, and a mighty multitude: but they have lain down, and shall not rise: they are extinct, as quenched flax.

18 Remember you not the former things, and consider not the ancient things.

19 Behold, I [will] do new things, which shall presently spring forth, and you shall know them: and I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the dry land.

20 the beasts of the field shall bless me, the owls and young ostriches; for I have given water in the wilderness, and rivers in the dry land, to give drink to my chosen race,

21 my people whom I have preserved to tell forth my praises.

22 I have not now called you, O Jacob; neither have I made you weary, O Israel.

23 You have not brought me the sheep of your whole burnt offering; neither have you glorified me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with sacrifices, neither have I wearied you with frankincense.

24 Neither have you purchased for me victims for silver, neither have I desired the fat of your sacrifices: but you did stand before me in your sins, and in your iniquities.

25 I, [even] I, am he that blots out your transgressions for mine own sake, and your sins; and I will not remember [them].

26 But do you remember, and let us plead [together]: do you first confess your transgressions, that you may be justified.

27 Your fathers first, and your princes have transgressed against me.

28 And the princes have defiled my sanctuaries: so I gave Jacob [to enemies] to destroy, and Israel to reproach.