Isaiah 43

1But now, thus says Yahweh, he who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.

2When you pass through the waters, I am with you; and through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.

3For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4Because you are precious in my eyes, honored, and I love you, I give men in exchange for you, and peoples in place of your life.

5Do not fear, for I am with you; from the east I will bring your offspring, and from the west I will gather you.

6I will say to the north, ‘Give them up,’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the end of the earth.

7everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed, indeed whom I made.

8Bring out a blind people, though they have eyes, and the deaf, though they have ears.

9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this and make the former things heard? Let them present their witnesses, that they may be justified; and let them hear and say, “It is true.”

10You are my witnesses, declares Yahweh, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe in me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, and after me there will be none.

11I, I am Yahweh, and besides me there is no savior.

12I myself declared and saved and announced, and there was no foreign god among you; and you are my witnesses, declares Yahweh, and I am God.

13Indeed, from that day on I am he, and there is none who can deliver from my hand; I act, and who can turn it back?

14Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon and brought them all down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

15I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.

16Thus says Yahweh, who makes 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 do not rise; they are extinguished, quenched like flax.

18Do not remember the former things, and do not consider the things of old.

19Look, I am doing a new thing; now it springs up—do you not perceive it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the wasteland.

20The beasts of the field will honor me, jackals and ostriches, because I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen ones.

21This people I formed for myself; they will declare my praise.

22Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, because you have grown weary of me, Israel.

23You have not brought me sheep for your burnt offerings, nor have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.

24You did not buy me sweet cane with silver, or satisfy me with the fat of your sacrifices; instead, you burdened me with your sins; you wearied me with your iniquities.

25I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and your sins I will not remember.

26Remind me; let us argue the case together. State your case, so that you may be proved right.

27Your first father sinned, and your spokesmen rebelled against me.

28So I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and I gave Jacob over to destruction, and Israel to reviling.