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.

And now thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob, and who formed you, O Israel: Do not be afraid. For I have redeemed you, and 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 the rivers will not cover you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flames will not scorch you.

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 have presented Egypt as your atonement, Ethiopia and Seba on your behalf.

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.

Since then, you have become honorable in my eyes, and glorious. I have loved you, and I will present men on behalf of you, and people on behalf 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.

Fear not, for I am with you. I will lead your offspring from the East, and I will 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, “Release him,” and to the South, “Do not turn him away.” Bring my sons from far away, 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.

And each one who calls upon my name, I have created for my glory. I have formed him, and I have made him.

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

Lead forth the people who are blind and have eyes, who are deaf and have ears.

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 have been assembled together, and the tribes have been collected. Who among you will announce this, and who will cause us to listen to the things that are first? Let them present their witnesses. Let them act justly, and listen, 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, says the Lord, and you are my servant, whom I have chosen, so that you may know, and may believe in me, and so that you may understand that I am the same. Before me, there was no god formed, and after me there will be none.

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

I am. I am the Lord. And there is no savior apart from 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 have announced, and I have saved. I have caused it to be heard. And there was no stranger among you. You are my witnesses, says the Lord, and 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?”

And from the beginning, I am the same. And there is no one who can rescue from my hand. I act, and who can turn it aside?

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 sent to Babylon, and tore down all their bars, with the Chaldeans who glory in their ships.

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

I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, 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 gave you a way through the sea and a path through the torrent of 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 led out the chariot and the horse, the column of robust troops. They went to sleep together, and they will not arise. They have been crushed like flax, and they have been extinguished.

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

You need not call to mind the past, nor consider the things of antiquity.

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 accomplishing new things. And presently, they will spring forth. With certainty, you will know them. I will make a way in the desert, and rivers in an impassible place.

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 wild beasts of the field will glorify me, with the serpents and the ostriches. For I have brought waters to the desert, rivers to inaccessible places, in order to give drink to my people, to my elect.

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

This is the people whom I have formed for myself. They will speak my praise.

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

But you have not called upon me, O Jacob, nor have you struggled for 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 offered me the ram of your holocaust, and you have not glorified me with your victims. I have not burdened you with oblations, nor have I wearied you with incense.

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 bought me no sweet cane with money, and you have not inebriated me with the fat of your victims. Yet truly, 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 am. I am the very One who wipes away your iniquities for my own sake. And I will not remember your sins.

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

Call me to mind, and let us go to judgment together. If you have anything to justify yourself, explain it.

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

Your first father sinned, and your interpreters have betrayed me.

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

And so, I have defiled the holy leaders. I have handed over Jacob to slaughter, and Israel to calumny.