Isaiah 43

1 But now thus saith Jehovah, that created thee, O Jacob, That formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by name; thou art 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 thou passest through waters, I will be with thee; And through rivers, they shall not overflow thee; When thou walkest through fire, thou shalt not be burned, And the flame shall not consume thee.

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 Jehovah, thy God, The Holy One of Israel, thy saviour. I will give Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee;

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 thou art precious in my sight, Because thou art honored, and I love thee, Therefore will I give men for thee, And nations for thy 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 Fear not, for I am with thee! I will bring thy children 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 them up!” And to the South, “Withhold them not! Bring my sons from afar, And my daughters from the ends 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 Every one that is called by my name, That I have created for my glory, That I have 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 forth the blind people, having eyes, And the deaf, having ears.

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

9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And the kingdoms be assembled! Who among them hath declared this, And can show us former predictions? Let them produce their witnesses that they are right; That men may hear, and say, It is 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 Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, And my servant whom I have chosen, That ye may know and believe me, And understand that I am He. Before me was no god formed, And after me there shall be 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, I am Jehovah, And besides me there is no saviour.

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

12 I have declared and have saved; I made it known, when there was no strange god among you; Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, That 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 beginning of time I have been He, And none can rescue from my hand; I undertake, and who can hinder?

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 saith Jehovah, Your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sakes have I sent to Babylon, And caused all her fugitives, And the Chaldeans, to descend to the ships of their delight.

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, Jehovah, am your Holy One, The creator of Israel, your king.

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

16 Thus saith Jehovah, —He that made a way in the sea, And a path in the mighty waters,

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

17 That caused the chariot and the horse, the army and the forces, to march forth; There they lay down together; they rose no more; They were extinguished; they were quenched like a torch; —

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 Remember not the former things; The things of old regard no more!

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

19 Behold, I do a new thing; Now shall it spring forth; yea, ye shall see it. Behold, I make a way in the wilderness, And streams 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 beasts of the forest shall honor me, The jackals and the ostriches; For I make rivers in the wilderness And streams in the desert, 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 This people, which I have formed for myself Shall make known my praise.

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

22 Yet thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, So as to have wearied thyself for me, O Israel!

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

23 Thou hast not brought me thy lambs for a burnt-offering, Nor honored me with thy sacrifices; I have not burdened thee with oblations, Nor wearied thee with 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 Thou hast bought me no sweet-smelling reed with silver, Neither hast thou satisfied me with the fat of thy sacrifices; With thy sins hast thou burdened me, And wearied me with thine 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, I myself, blot out thy transgressions for my own sake, And will not remember thy 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 Put me in remembrance; let us plead together; Speak that thou mayst justify thyself.

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

27 Thy forefathers sinned, And thy teachers were rebellious against me;

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

28 Therefore have I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, And given up Jacob to a curse, And Israel to reproach.

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