Isaiah 44
1 “But now listen, Jacob my servant and Israel whom I have chosen:ISV — Isaiah 44:1
2 This what the LORD says, the one who made you, formed you from the womb, and who will help you: “Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant, and Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.ISV — Isaiah 44:2
3 For I’ll pour water upon thirsty ground and streams on parched land. So will I pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing upon your descendants.ISV — Isaiah 44:3
4 They’ll spring up as among the green grass, like willows by flowing streams.ISV — Isaiah 44:4
5 One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ and another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will have written on his hand, ‘the LORD’s,’ and will adopt the name of Israel.”ISV — Isaiah 44:5
6 This is what the LORD says, the King of Israel and its Redeemer— the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name— “I am the first and I am the last, and apart from me there is no God.ISV — Isaiah 44:6
7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim and declare it, and lay it out for himself— since he made an ancient people. And let him speak future events; let them tell him what will happen.ISV — Isaiah 44:7
8 Don’t tremble, and don’t be afraid. Didn’t I tell you and announce it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock— I don’t know of any.”ISV — Isaiah 44:8
9 Now, all the forming of images means nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their own witnesses cannot see, and they know nothing. So they will be put to shame.ISV — Isaiah 44:9
10 Who would shape a god or cast an image that profits nothing?ISV — Isaiah 44:10
11 To be sure, all who associate with it will be put to shame; and as for the craftsmen, they are only human. Let them all gather together and take their stand. Then let them be terrified—they will be humiliated together.ISV — Isaiah 44:11
12 The blacksmith prepares a tool and works in the coals, then fashions an idol with hammers, working by the strength of his arm. He even becomes hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint.ISV — Isaiah 44:12
13 The carpenter measures it with a line; he traces its shape with a stylus, then fashions it with planes and shapes it with a compass. He makes the idol like a human figure, with human beauty, to be at home in a shrine.ISV — Isaiah 44:13
14 He cuts down cedars, or chooses a cypress tree or an oak, and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. Or he plants a cedar, and the rain makes it grow.ISV — Isaiah 44:14
15 He divides it up for people to burn. Taking part of it, he warms himself, makes a fire, and bakes bread. Or perhaps he constructs a god and worships it. He makes it an idol and bows down to it.ISV — Isaiah 44:15
16 Half the wood he burns in the fire, and over that half he places meat so he can eat. He sits by its coals, warms himself, and says, “Ah! I am warm in front of the fire.”ISV — Isaiah 44:16
17 And the rest of it he makes into a god. To blocks of wood he bows down, worships, prays, and says, “Save me, since you are my god.”ISV — Isaiah 44:17
18 They don’t realize; they don’t understand, because their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds, too, so they cannot understand.ISV — Isaiah 44:18
19 No one stops to think. No one has the knowledge or understanding to think—yes to think!— “Half of it I burned in the fire. I even baked bread on its coals, and I roasted meat and ate it. And am I about to make detestable things from what is left? Am I about to bow down to blocks of wood?”ISV — Isaiah 44:19
20 He tends ashes. A deceived mind has lead him astray. It cannot be his life, nor can he say, “There’s a lie in my right hand.” ISV — Isaiah 44:20
21 “Remember these things, Jacob, Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you; you are a servant to me. Israel, you must not mislead me. ISV — Isaiah 44:21
22 I’ve wiped away your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist. Return to me; because I’ve redeemed you.ISV — Isaiah 44:22
23 “Shout for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout aloud, you depths of the earth! Burst out with singing, you mountains, you forest, and all your trees! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and will display his glory in Israel.ISV — Isaiah 44:23
24 “This is what the LORD says, your Redeemer and the one who formed you in the womb: ‘I am the LORD, who has made everything, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth— Who was with me at that time?— ISV — Isaiah 44:24
25 who frustrates the omens of idle talkers, and drives diviners mad, who turns back the wise, and makes their knowledge foolish; ISV — Isaiah 44:25
26 who carries out the words of his servants, and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, “It will be inhabited,” and of Judah’s cities, “They will be rebuilt,” and of her ruins, “I’ll raise them up”;ISV — Isaiah 44:26
27 who says to the watery deep, “Be dry— I will dry up your rivers;”ISV — Isaiah 44:27
28 who says about Cyrus, “He’s my shepherd, and he’ll carry out everything that I please: He’ll say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of my Temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid again.’”’”ISV — Isaiah 44:28