Isaiæ 44
1 Et nunc audi Iacob serve meus, et Israel quem elegi:
Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and 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 what the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: "Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, 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 upon the thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants:
4 Et germinabunt inter herbas quasi salices iuxta praeterfluentes aquas.
and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
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 am the LORD's;' and another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand 'to the LORD,' and honor 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.
This is what the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts, says: "I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
7 Quis similis mei? vocet, et annunciet: et ordinem exponat mihi, ex quo constitui populum antiquum: ventura et quae futura sunt annuncient eis.
Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.
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 fear, neither be afraid. Haven't I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I do not know any other Rock."
9 Plastae idoli omnes nihil sunt, et amantissima eorum non proderunt eis. ipsi sunt testes eorum, quia non vident, neque intelligunt, ut confundantur.
Everyone who makes an engraved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses do not see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.
10 Quis formavit Deum, et sculptile conflavit ad nihil utile?
Who has fashioned a god, or molds an image that is profitable for nothing?
11 Ecce omnes participes eius confundentur: fabri enim sunt ex hominibus: convenient omnes, stabunt et pavebunt, et confundentur simul.
Look, all his fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together.
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 an axe, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is 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 carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.
14 Succidit cedros, tulit ilicem, et quercum, quae steterat inter ligna saltus: plantavit pinum, quam pluvia nutrivit.
He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it.
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.
Then it will be for a man to burn; and he takes some of it, and warms himself. Yes, he burns it, and bakes bread. Yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it an engraved image, and falls 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 part of it in the fire. With part of it, he eats meat. He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. Yes, he warms himself, and says, "Aha. I am warm. I have seen 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.
The rest of it he makes into a god, even his engraved image. He bows down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, "Deliver 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 know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they can't see; and their hearts, that they can't 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?
No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?"
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. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can't deliver his soul, nor say, "Isn't there a lie in my right hand?"
21 Memento horum Iacob, et Israel, quoniam servus meus es tu. formavi te, servus meus es tu Israel, ne obliviscaris mei.
Remember these things, Jacob and Israel; for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22 Delevi ut nubem iniquitates tuas, et quasi nebulam peccata tua: revertere ad me, quoniam redemi te.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. 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, you heavens, for the LORD has done it. Shout, you lower parts of the earth. Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself 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, and he who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
25 Irrita faciens signa divinorum, et ariolos in furorem vertens. Convertens sapientes retrorsum: et scientiam eorum stultam faciens.
who foils the omens of the empty talkers, and makes fools of diviners; who turns sages back, and makes their knowledge foolish;
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 word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, 'She will be inhabited;' and of the cities of Judah, 'They will be built,' and 'I will raise up its waste places;'
27 Qui dico profundo: Desolare, et flumina tua arefaciam.
who says to the deep, 'Be dry,' and 'I will dry up your rivers;'
28 Qui dico Cyro: Pastor meus es, et omnem voluntatem meam complebis. Qui dico Ierusalem: Aedificaberis; et templo: Fundaberis.
Who says of Koresh, 'He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,' even saying of Jerusalem, 'She will be built;' and of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"
