Isaiah 43
43
The Lord Has Rescued His People
1Descendants of Jacob,
I, the Lord, created you
and formed your nation.
Israel, don't be afraid.
I have rescued you.
I have called you by name;
now you belong to me.
2When you cross deep rivers,
I will be with you,
and you won't drown.
When you walk through fire,
you won't be burned
or scorched by the flames.
3I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
the God who saves you.
I gave up Egypt, Ethiopia,#43.3 Ethiopia: See the note at 11.11.
and the region of Seba#43.3 Seba: A region in southwest Arabia. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba probably stood for all that was known of Africa in biblical times.
in exchange for you.
4To me, you are very dear,
and I love you.
That's why I gave up nations
and people to rescue you.
5Don't be afraid! I am with you.
From both east and west
I will bring you together.
6I will say to the north
and to the south,
“Free my sons and daughters!
Let them return
from distant lands.
7They are my people—
I created each of them
to bring honor to me.”
The Lord Alone Is God
The Lord said:
8Bring my people together.
They have eyes and ears,
but they can't see or hear.
9Tell everyone of every nation
to gather around.
None of them can honestly say,
“We told you so!”
If someone heard them say this,
then tell us about it now.
10My people, you are my witnesses
and my chosen servant.
I want you to know me,
to trust me, and understand
that I alone am God.
I have always been God;
there can be no others.
11I alone am the Lord;
only I can rescue you.
12I promised to save you,
and I kept my promise.
You are my witnesses
that no other god did this.
I, the Lord, have spoken.
13I am God now and forever.
No one can snatch you from me
or stand in my way.
The Lord Will Prepare the Way
14I, the Lord, will rescue you!
I am Israel's holy God,
and this is my promise:
For your sake, I will send
an army against Babylon
to drag its people away,
crying as they go.#43.14 crying as they go: Or “in their glorious ships.”
15I am the Lord, your holy God,
Israel's Creator and King.
16I am the one who cut a path
through the mighty ocean.
17I sent an army to chase you
with chariots and horses;
now they lie dead,
unable to move.
They are like an oil lamp
with the flame snuffed out.
Forget the Past
The Lord said:
18Forget what happened long ago!
Don't think about the past.
19I am creating something new.
There it is! Do you see it?
I have put roads in deserts,
streams#43.19 streams: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls “paths.” in thirsty lands.
20Every wild animal honors me,
even jackals#43.20 jackals: Desert animals related to wolves, but smaller. and owls.
I provide water in deserts—
streams in thirsty lands
for my chosen people.
21I made them my own nation,
so they would praise me.
22I, the Lord, said to Israel:
You have become weary of me,
but not from worshiping me.
23You have not honored me
by sacrificing sheep
or other animals.
And I have not burdened you
with demands for sacrifices
or sweet-smelling incense.
24You have not brought
delicious spices for me
or given me the best part
of your sacrificed animals.
Instead, you burden me down
with your terrible sins.
25But I wipe away your sins
because of who I am.
And so, I will forget
the wrongs you have done.
26Meet me in court!
State your case and prove
that you are right.
27Your earliest ancestor#43.27 earliest ancestor: Jacob, also known as Israel.
and all your leaders#43.27 leaders: Probably prophets, but perhaps also priests and kings.
rebelled against me.
28That's why I don't allow
your priests to serve me;
I let Israel be destroyed
and your people disgraced.
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Isaiah 43: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Isaiah 43
43
The Restorer of Israel
1But now thus says Yahweh,
he who created you, Jacob,
and he who formed you, Israel:
“You must not fear, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by your name; you are mine.#Literally “to me you”
2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers, they shall not flow over you.
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not scorch#Or “burn” you.
3For I am Yahweh, your God,
the holy one of Israel, your savior.
I give you Egypt as ransom,
Cush and Seba in place of you.
4Because you are precious in my eyes,
you are honored, and I myself love you,
and I give people in place of you,
and nations in place of your life.
5You must not fear,
for I am with you.
I will bring your offspring#Literally “seed” from the east,
and I will gather you from the west.
6I will say to the north, ‘Give!’
and to the south, ‘You must not withhold!’
Bring my sons from far away,
and my daughters from the end of the earth—
7everyone who is called by my name,
and whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed,
indeed whom I made.”
8Bring out the people blind yet#Or “and” with eyes,
and deaf, though#Or “and” they have ears.
9Let all the nations gather together,
and let the peoples assemble.
Who among them has declared this,
and declared#Literally “caused to hear” the former things to us?
Let them bring#Or “give” their witnesses, that#Or “and” they may be in the right,
and let them hear and say, “It is true!”
10“You are my witnesses,” declares#Literally “declaration of” Yahweh,
“and my servant whom I have chosen
so that you may know and believe in#Literally “to” me
and understand that I am he.
No god was formed before me#Literally “my face”,
and none shall be after me.
11I myself am Yahweh,
and there is no savior besides me!
12I myself declared and saved,
and I proclaimed.#Literally “caused to hear” And there was no strange god#Literally “stranger” among you.
And you are my witnesses,” declares#Literally “declaration of” Yahweh,
“and I am God.
13Indeed, from this day I am the one,
and no one can deliver from my hand.
I perform,#Or “make” and who can cancel it?”#Literally “bring it back”
Yahweh Rescues His People
14Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer,
the holy one of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon,
and I will cause all of them to fall down as fugitives,
and the Chaldeans,#Literally “Chaldea” their rejoicing on the ships.
15I am Yahweh, your holy one,
the creator of Israel, your king.”
16Thus says Yahweh, who makes#Literally “gives” a way in the sea
and a path in the mighty waters,
17who brings out chariot and horse,
army and mighty one.
Together they lie down;
they cannot rise.
They are extinguished,
quenched like a wick.
18“You must not remember the former things,
and you not must consider the former things.
19Look! I am about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts!
Do you not perceive#Or “know” it?
Indeed, I will make#Literally “put” a way in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert.
20The animals of the field will honor me,
jackals and daughters of the ostrich,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give a drink to my chosen people,
21this people whom I formed for myself,
so they might make known#Literally “count out” my praise.
22But#Or “And” you did not call me, Jacob;
for you have become weary of me, Israel.
23You have not brought me your sheep for a burnt offering
nor#Or “and” honored me with your sacrifice.
I have not made you serve with offerings,#Hebrew “offering”
nor have I made you weary with frankincense.
24You have not bought me spice reed with money
or#Or “and” satisfied me with the fat of sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins;
you have made me weary with your iniquities.
25I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my sake,
and I will not remember your sins.
26Take me to court; let us enter into judgment together.
You, make an account#Literally “count up” so that you may be in the right.
27Your first ancestor#Or “father” sinned,
and your representatives#Literally “scoffers” or “spokesmen” transgressed against me.
28And I profaned the princes of the sanctuary,
and I gave Jacob to destruction, and Israel to reviling.
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