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.

But now the LORD who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel, says: “Don’t be afraid, 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 through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burnt, and flame will not scorch you.

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 Saviour. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

4 Since thou hast been precious in my sight, [and] honourable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men for thee, and peoples for thy life.

Since you have been precious and honoured in my sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead 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;

Don’t 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 tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring my sons from far away, 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 who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.’”

8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.

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

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who amongst them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified, or let them hear, and say, “That 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 there be after me.

“You are my witnesses,” says the LORD, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me.

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

I myself am the LORD. Besides me, there is no saviour.

12 I have declared, and I have saved, and I have shewed, and there was no strange [god] among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and I am God.

I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown, and there was no strange god amongst you. Therefore you are my witnesses”, says the LORD, “and 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 shall let it?

Yes, since the day was, I am he. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder 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 rejoicing.

The LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Kasdim, in the ships of their rejoicing.

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, your King.”

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

The LORD, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters,

17 which 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 flax:

who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick) says:

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

“Don’t remember the former things, and don’t consider 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 will do a new thing. It springs out now. Don’t you know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers 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, my chosen:

The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honour me, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.

the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise.

22 Yet thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, 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 made thee to serve with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense.

You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings, neither have you honoured 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 filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

You have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled 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 I will not remember thy sins.

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

26 Put me in remembrance; let us plead together: set thou forth [thy cause], that thou mayest be justified.

Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Declare your case, that you may be justified.

27 Thy first father sinned, and thine interpreters have transgressed against me.

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

28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary, and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling.

Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel an insult.”