Isaiah 44

1But now hear, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.

2Thus says Yahweh, your Maker and the one who formed you from the womb, who will help you: Do not fear, my servant Jacob, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

3For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

4And they will spring up among the grass like willows by streams of water.

5This one will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to Yahweh,’ and will name himself by the name of Israel.

6Thus says Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies: I am the first, and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

7And who is like me? Let him call and declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare to them the things to come, and the things that will come.

8Do not fear, and do not tremble. Have I not long ago made you hear and declared it? And you are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know of none.

9All who fashion an idol are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, so that they will be put to shame.

10Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?

11Look, all his companions will be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only men. Let them all gather and stand up; they will be terrified, they will be put to shame together.

12The ironsmith works with a cutting tool and works over the coals; with hammers he shapes it and works it with his strong arm. He also becomes hungry, and there is no strength; he has not drunk water, and he grows faint.

13The woodworker stretches out a line; he marks it out with a stylus; he shapes it with planes, and marks it out with a compass. He makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of a human, to dwell in a house.

14He cuts down cedars for himself, or he takes a cypress tree or an oak and chooses it from among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain makes it grow.

15Then it becomes fuel for a man, and he takes some of them and warms himself; he also kindles a fire and bakes bread. He also makes a god and bows down; he makes it a carved image and prostrates himself before it.

16Half of it he burns in the fire; over the other half he eats meat: he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm; I have seen the fire.”

17And with the rest of it he makes a god—his carved image; he bows down to it and worships, and prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.”

18They do not know, nor do they understand, because he has shut their eyes from seeing, and their hearts from understanding.

19And he does not take it to heart, and there is no knowledge or understanding to say, “I burned half of it in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and ate. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

20He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

21Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are a servant to me. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.

22I have wiped away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

23Sing for joy, O heavens, for Yahweh has done it; shout aloud, depths of the earth. Break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it; for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and in Israel he displays his glory.

24Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: I am Yahweh, who makes all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.

25who frustrates the signs of liars and makes diviners act like fools, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish,

26who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt,’ and ‘I will raise up her ruins.’

27who says to the deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers,’

28who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he will fulfill all my purpose,’ saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Its foundation will be laid.’