Isaiah 43

1 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.

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 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.

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 Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

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 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.

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 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and 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 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,

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

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

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

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

9 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.'

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 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.

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

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

12 I have declared, saved, and proclaimed, and there is no other god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “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 From this day on I am he, and no one can rescue anyone from my hand. I act, and who can turn it back?”

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

14 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.

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

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

16 This is what Yahweh says (who opened a way through 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 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.)

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

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

19 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.

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 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,

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

The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.

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

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

23 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.

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 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.

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, yes, I, am he who blots out your offenses for my own sake; and I will not call to mind your sins any longer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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