[1] "But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! [2] Thus
says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshu'run whom I have chosen. [3] For I will
pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour
my Spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring. [4]
They shall spring up like grass amid waters, like willows by flowing
streams. [5] This one will say, `I am the LORD's,' another will call
himself by the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, `The
LORD's,' and surname himself by the name of Israel." [6] Thus says the
LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the
first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. [7] Who is like me?
Let him proclaim it, let him declare and set it forth before me. Who has
announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to
be. [8] Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and
declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is
no Rock; I know not any." [9] All who make idols are nothing, and the
things they delight in do not profit; their witnesses neither see nor know,
that they may be put to shame. [10] Who fashions a god or casts an image,
that is profitable for nothing? [11] Behold, all his fellows shall be put
to shame, and the craftsmen are but men; let them all assemble, let them
stand forth, they shall be terrified, they shall be put to shame together.
[12] The ironsmith fashions it and works it over the coals; he shapes it
with hammers, and forges it with his strong arm; he becomes hungry and his
strength fails, he drinks no water and is faint. [13] The carpenter
stretches a line, he marks it out with a pencil; he fashions it with
planes, and marks it with a compass; he shapes it into the figure of a man,
with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. [14] He cuts down cedars; or
he chooses a holm tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of
the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. [15] Then it
becomes fuel for a man; he takes a part of it and warms himself, he kindles
a fire and bakes bread; also he makes a god and worships it, he makes it a
graven image and falls down before it. [16] Half of it he burns in the
fire; over the half he eats flesh, he roasts meat and is satisfied; also he
warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!" [17] And
the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol; and falls down to it and
worships it; he prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for thou art my god!"
[18] They know not, nor do they discern; for he has shut their eyes, so
that they cannot see, and their minds, so that they cannot understand. [19]
No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it
I burned in the fire, I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted flesh and
have eaten; and shall I make the residue of it an abomination? Shall I fall
down before a block of wood?" [20] He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has
led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, "Is there not a lie
in my right hand?" [21] Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you
are my servant; I formed you, you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be
forgotten by me. [22] I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,
and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. [23] Sing,
O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break
forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the
LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel. [24] Thus says
the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who
made all things, who stretched out the heavens alone, who spread out the
earth-- Who was with me?-- [25] who frustrates the omens of liars, and
makes fools of diviners; who turns wise men back, and makes their knowledge
foolish; [26] who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the
counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, `She shall be inhabited,'
and of the cities of Judah, `They shall be built, and I will raise up their
ruins'; [27] who says to the deep, `Be dry, I will dry up your rivers';
[28] who says of Cyrus, `He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfil all my
purpose'; saying of Jerusalem, `She shall be built,' and of the temple,
`Your foundation shall be laid.'"
