43
XLIII
1But now, thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob,
And He that formed thee, O Israel:
Fear not, for I have redeemed thee;
I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2When thou passest through the waters, I am with thee;
And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm thee;
When thou walkest in the fire, thou shalt not be burned;
Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3For I am Jehovah, thy God;
The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:
I have given Egypt for thy ransom;
Cush and Seba in thy stead.
4From the time that thou hast been precious in my sight,
Thou hast been honoured, and I have loved thee:
Therefore will I give men for thee,
And nations for thy life.
5Fear not, for I am with thee:
I will bring thy seed from the east,
And gather thee from the west.
6I will say to the north, Give up;
And to the south, Withhold not:
Bring my sons from afar,
And my daughters from the ends of the earth:
7 Even every one that is called by my name,
For I have created him for my glory,
I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
8Bring forth the people that are blind, although they have eyes;
And that are deaf, although they have ears.
9Let all the nations be gathered together,
And let the people be assembled:
Who among them can declare this,
And make known unto us former predictions?
Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified:
Or let them hear, and say, This is true.
10Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah,
And my servant whom I have chosen;
That ye may know, and believe me,
And understand that I am He:
Before me there was no God formed,
And after me none shall exist.
11I, even I, am Jehovah;
And beside roe there is no Saviour.
12I have declared my purpose, and I have saved;
And have made it known; nor was it any strange god among you:
And ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, that I am God.
13Ever since time began I am He;
And there is none that can deliver out of my hand:
I will work, and who shall undo it?
14Thus saith Jehovah,
Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
For your sake have I sent unto Babylon,
And made all the fugitives to go down,
And the Chaldeans, into the ships of their once joyous clamour.
15I am Jehovah, your Holy One;
The Creator of Israel, your King.
16Thus saith Jehovah,
Who made a way in the sea,
And a path in the mighty waters;
17Who hath brought forth the chariot and the horse, the army and the warrior;
They lay down together, they rose no more;
They were extinguished, they were quenched like tow.
18Remember not the former things,
Neither regard the things of ancient times.
19Behold, I make a new thing;
Now shall it spring forth: shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
And rivers in the desert.
20The wild beast of the field shall honour me,
The jackals, and the daughters of the ostrich: Because I give waters in the wilderness,
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to my people, my chosen.
21This people whom I have formed for myself;
They shall recount my praise.
22But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob!
Yea, thou hast been weary of me, O Israel!
23Thou hast not brought me the lamb of thy burnt-offering,
Neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices:
I have not burdened thee with exacting oblations,
Nor wearied thee with demands of frankincense:
24Thou hast not bought for me with silver the sweet cane;
Neither hast thou satiated me with the fat of thy sacrifices:
But thou hast burdened me with thy sins,
Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.
25I, even I, am He,
That blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake,
And will not remember thy sins,
26Put me in remembrance; let us plead together:
Set forth thy cause, that thou mayest be justified.
27Thy first father hath sinned,
And thy interpreters have transgressed against me;
28Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary;
And have given Jacob to the curse,
And Israel to reproaches.