Isaiæ 44
1 Et nunc audi Iacob serve meus, et Israel quem elegi:
But now listen, O Jacob My servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 Haec dicit Dominus faciens et formans te, ab utero auxiliator tuus: noli timere serve meus Iacob, et rectissime, quem elegi.
This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 Effundam enim aquas super sitientem, et fluenta super aridam: effundam spiritum meum super semen tuum, et benedictionem meam super stirpem tuam.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
4 Et germinabunt inter herbas quasi salices iuxta praeterfluentes aquas.
They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.
5 Iste dicet: Domini ego sum: et ille vocabit in nomine Iacob, et hic scribet manu sua: Domino: et in nomine Israel assimilabitur.
One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name of Israel.”
6 Haec dicit Dominus rex Israel, et redemptor eius Dominus exercituum: Ego primus, et ego novissimus, et absque me non est Deus.
Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
7 Quis similis mei? vocet, et annunciet: et ordinem exponat mihi, ex quo constitui populum antiquum: ventura et quae futura sunt annuncient eis.
Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.
8 Nolite timere, neque conturbemini: ex tunc audire te feci, et annunciavi: vos estis testes mei. numquid est Deus absque me, et formator, quem ego non noverim?
Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”
9 Plastae idoli omnes nihil sunt, et amantissima eorum non proderunt eis. ipsi sunt testes eorum, quia non vident, neque intelligunt, ut confundantur.
All makers of idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses fail to see or comprehend, so they are put to shame.
10 Quis formavit Deum, et sculptile conflavit ad nihil utile?
Who fashions a god or casts an idol which profits him nothing?
11 Ecce omnes participes eius confundentur: fabri enim sunt ex hominibus: convenient omnes, stabunt et pavebunt, et confundentur simul.
Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame.
12 Faber ferrarius lima operatus est: in prunis, et in malleis formavit illud, et operatus est in brachio fortitudinis suae: esuriet et deficiet, non bibet aquam, et lassescet.
The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint.
13 Artifex lignarius extendit normam, formavit illud in runcina: fecit illud in angularibus, et circino tornavit illud: et fecit imaginem viri quasi speciosum hominem habitantem in domo.
The woodworker extends a measuring line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with chisels and outlines it with a compass. He fashions it in the likeness of man, like man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine.
14 Succidit cedros, tulit ilicem, et quercum, quae steterat inter ligna saltus: plantavit pinum, quam pluvia nutrivit.
He cuts down cedars or retrieves a cypress or oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
15 Et facta est hominibus in focum: sumpsit ex eis, et calefactus est: et succendit, et coxit panes: de reliquo autem operatus est deum, et adoravit: fecit sculptile, et curvatus est ante illud.
It serves as fuel for man. He takes some of it to warm himself, and he kindles a fire and bakes his bread; he even fashions it into a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16 Medium eius combussit igni, et de medio eius carnes comedit: coxit pulmentum, et saturatus est, et calefactus est, et dixit: Vah, calefactus sum, vidi focum.
He burns half of it in the fire, and he roasts meat on that half. He eats the roast and is satisfied. Indeed, he warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”
17 Reliquum autem eius deum fecit et sculptile sibi: curvatur ante illud, et adorat illud, et obsecrat, dicens: Libera me, quia Deus meus es tu.
From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”
18 Nescierunt, neque intellexerunt: obliti enim sunt ne videant oculi eorum, et ne intelligant corde suo.
They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand.
19 Non recogitant in mente sua, neque cognoscunt, neque sentiunt, ut dicant: Medietatem eius combussi igni, et coxi super carbones eius panes: coxi carnes et comedi, et de reliquo eius idolum faciam? ante truncum ligni procidam?
And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”
20 Pars eius cinis est: cor insipiens adoravit illud, et non liberabit animam suam, neque dicet: Forte mendacium est in dextera mea.
He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
21 Memento horum Iacob, et Israel, quoniam servus meus es tu. formavi te, servus meus es tu Israel, ne obliviscaris mei.
Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are My servant, O Israel. I have made you, and you are My servant; O Israel, I will never forget you.
22 Delevi ut nubem iniquitates tuas, et quasi nebulam peccata tua: revertere ad me, quoniam redemi te.
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
23 Laudate caeli, quoniam misericordiam fecit Dominus: iubilate extrema terrae, resonate montes laudationem, saltus et omne lignum eius: quoniam redemit Dominus Iacob, et Israel gloriabitur.
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
24 Haec dicit Dominus redemptor tuus, et formator tuus ex utero: Ego sum Dominus, faciens omnia, extendens caelos solus, stabiliens terram, et nullus mecum.
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,
25 Irrita faciens signa divinorum, et ariolos in furorem vertens. Convertens sapientes retrorsum: et scientiam eorum stultam faciens.
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
26 Suscitans verbum servi sui, et consilium nunciorum suorum complens. Qui dico Ierusalem: Habitaberis; et civitatibus Iuda: Aedificabimini, et deserta eius suscitabo.
who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’
27 Qui dico profundo: Desolare, et flumina tua arefaciam.
who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’
28 Qui dico Cyro: Pastor meus es, et omnem voluntatem meam complebis. Qui dico Ierusalem: Aedificaberis; et templo: Fundaberis.
who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”
