Isaiah 43

1 And now, thus said YHWH, Your Creator, O Jacob, and your Fashioner, O Israel: Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you, I have called on your 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 pass into waters, I [am] with you, And into floods, they do not overflow you, When you go into fire, you are not burned, And a flame does not burn against you.

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—your God YHWH, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior, I have appointed Egypt your atonement, Cush and Seba in your stead.

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 Since you were precious in My eyes, You were honored, and I have loved you, And I appoint men in your stead, And peoples instead of your life.

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 Do not be afraid, for I [am] with you, I bring in your seed from the east, And I gather you 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 am saying to the north, “Give up,” And to the south, “Do not restrain.” Bring in My sons from afar, And My daughters from the end of the earth.

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 Everyone who is called by My Name, Even for My glory I have created him, I have formed him, indeed, I have made him.

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

8 He brought out a blind people who have eyes, And deaf ones who have ears.

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

9 All the nations have been gathered together, And the peoples are assembled, Who among them declares this, And causes us to hear former things? They give their witnesses, And they are declared righteous, And they hear and say, “Truth.”

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 You [are] My witnesses, a declaration of YHWH, And My servant whom I have chosen, So that you know and give credence to Me, And understand that I [am] He, Before Me there was no God formed, And after Me there is none.

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 [am] YHWH, And besides Me there is no savior.

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

12 I declared, and saved, and proclaimed, And there is no stranger with you, And you [are] My witnesses, a declaration of YHWH, And I [am] God.

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

13 Even from the day I [am] He, And there is no deliverer from My hand, I work, and who turns it back?

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 Thus said YHWH, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I have sent to Babylon for your sake, And caused bars to descend—all of them, And the Chaldeans, whose song [is] in the ships.

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] YHWH, your Holy One, Creator of Israel, your King.”

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

16 Thus said YHWH, Who is giving a way in the sea, And a path in the strong waters.

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

17 Who is bringing forth chariot and horse, A force, even a strong one: “They lie down together—they do not rise, They have been extinguished, They have been quenched as flax.”

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 Do not remember former things, And do not consider ancient things.

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

19 Behold, I am doing a new thing, now it springs up, Do you not know it? Indeed, I put a way in a wilderness, In a desolate place—floods.

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 beast of the field honors Me, Dragons and daughters of an ostrich, For I have given waters in a wilderness, Floods in a desolate place, To give drink to My people—My chosen.

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 have formed this people for Myself, They recount My praise.

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

22 And you have not called Me, O Jacob, For you have been wearied of Me, O Israel,

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

23 You have not brought to Me, The lamb of your burnt-offerings, And [with] your sacrifices you have not honored Me, I have not caused you to serve with a present, Nor wearied you with frankincense.

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 have not bought Me sweet cane with money, And have not filled Me [with] the fat of your sacrifices, Only—you have caused Me to serve with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities.

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 [am] He who is blotting out Your transgressions for My own sake, And I do not remember your sins.

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 Cause Me to remember—we are judged together, Declare that you may be justified.

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

27 Your first father sinned, And your interpreters transgressed against Me,

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

28 And I defile princes of the sanctuary, And I give Jacob to destruction, and Israel to revilings!

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