Isa 43:14-21 | NETfull | STEP | This is what the Lord says, your protector, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon and make them all fugitives, turning the Babylonians’ joyful shouts into mourning songs.

Isaiah 43:14-21

The Lord Will Do Something New

14 This is what the Lord says,
your protector, ^{▼▼ Or “kinsman redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.} the Holy One of Israel: ^{▼▼ See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.}
“For your sake I send to Babylon
and make them all fugitives, ^{▼▼ Heb “and I bring down [as] fugitives all of them.”}
turning the Babylonians’ joyful shouts into mourning songs. ^{▼▼ The Hebrew text reads literally, “as for the Babylonians, in ships their joyful shout.” This might be paraphrased, “even the Babylonians in the ships [over which] they joyfully shouted.” The point would be that the Lord caused the Babylonians to flee for safety in the ships in which they took such great pride. A slight change in vocalization yields the reading “into mourning songs,” which provides a good contrast with “joyful shout.” The prefixed bet (בְּ) would indicate identity.}
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, ^{▼▼ See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.}
the one who created Israel, your king.”
16 This is what the Lord says,
the one who made a road through the sea,
a pathway through the surging waters,
17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, ^{▼▼ Heb “led out chariots and horses.” The words “to destruction” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red Sea.}
together with a mighty army.
They fell down, ^{▼▼ Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”} never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
18 “Don’t remember these earlier events; ^{▼▼ Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”}
don’t recall these former events.

19 “Look, I am about to do something new.
Now it begins to happen! ^{▼▼ Heb “sprouts up”; NASB “will spring forth.”} Do you not recognize ^{▼▼ Or “know” (KJV, ASV); NASB “be aware of”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “perceive.”} it?
Yes, I will make a road in the desert
and paths ^{▼▼ The Hebrew texts has “streams,” probably under the influence of v. 20. The Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a has נתיבות (“paths”).} in the wilderness.
20 The wild animals of the desert honor me,
the jackals and ostriches,
because I put water in the desert
and streams in the wilderness,
to quench the thirst of my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself,
so they might praise me.” ^{▼▼ Heb “[so] they might declare my praise.”}