Isa 43 | LEB | STEP | But 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⌟ .

Isaiah 43

The Restorer of Israel

1 But 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”}
2 When 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.
3 For 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.
4 Because 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.
5 You 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.
6 I 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—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
and whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed,
indeed whom I made.”
8 Bring out the people blind yet ^{▼▼Or “and”} with eyes,
and deaf, though ^{▼▼Or “and”} they have ears.
9 Let 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.
11 I myself am Yahweh,
and there is no savior besides me!
12 I 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.
13 Indeed, 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

14 Thus 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.
15 I am Yahweh, your holy one,
the creator of Israel, your king.”
16 Thus says Yahweh, who ⌞makes⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “gives”} a way in the sea
and a path in the mighty waters,
17 who 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.
19 Look! 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.
20 The 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,
21 this people whom I formed for myself,
so they might ⌞make known⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “count out”} my praise.
22 But ^{▼▼Or “And”} you did not call me, Jacob;
for you have become weary of me, Israel.
23 You 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.
24 You 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.
25 I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my sake,
and I will not remember your sins.
26 Take me to court; let us enter into judgment together.
You, ⌞make an account⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “count up”} so that you may be in the right.
27 Your first ancestor ^{▼▼Or “father”} sinned,
and your ⌞representatives⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “scoffers” or “spokesmen”} transgressed against me.
28 And I profaned the princes of the sanctuary,
and I gave Jacob to destruction, and Israel to reviling.