Isa 44 | ABEn | STEP | But now hear! O Jacob my child, and O Israel, whom I chose.

Isaiah 44

CHAPTER 44 The LORD Is One God

1 But now hear! O Jacob my child, and O Israel, whom I chose. 2 Thus says the lord God, the one creating you, and shaping you from the belly. You shall still be helped. Do not fear! [²my servant ¹O Jacob], and the one being loved, Israel whom I chose. 3 For I will give water for thirst to the ones going in a waterless place. I will place my spirit upon your seed, and my blessings upon your children. 4 And they shall rise up as [²in the midst ³of water ¹grass], and as willows upon [²flowing by ¹water]. 5 This one shall say I am of God. And this one shall call himself by the name of Jacob. And another shall inscribe with his hand, I am of God. And [²by ³the ⁴name ⁵Israel ¹he shall call himself]. 6 Thus says God, the king of Israel, and the one rescuing him -- the God of Hosts. I am first, and I am after these things; besides me there is no God. 7 Who is as I? Let him stand, and call, and announce, and prepare for me from which time I made man into the eon! And the things coming before their coming to pass let them announce to you! 8 Do not cover up yourselves, nor wander! Have you not from the beginning given ear, and I reported it to you? [³witnesses ¹You ²are] if there is a God besides me.

Vain Idols Profit Nothing

9 And they were not hearkening then, the ones shaping and carving all the vain idols, doing their wishes which do not benefit them. But [²their own witnesses ¹they are]. They shall not see, and they shall not know, that they should be ashamed -- he who shapes mighty and a carved molten casting for unprofitable things. Behold, all the ones partaking with him shall be ashamed -- 10 the ones shaping a god, and all the ones carving unprofitable things. 11 And all from where they came from were dried up. Yes, [³the deaf-mutes ⁴of ⁵men ¹let ⁶be brought together ²all], and let them stand together, and let them feel remorse, and let them be ashamed together! 12 For [²sharpens ¹the fabricator] the iron tool. With a hammer he works it in coals, and with a drill he sets it. And he works it with the arm of his strength. And he shall hunger and be weak, and in no way shall he drink water. 13 [²having chosen ¹The fabricator] a piece of wood sets it with a measure, and forms it with a scraper. He made it with a carpenter's square, and with glue he composes it. And he made it as the appearance of a man, and as the beauty of man he sets it in a niche; 14 in which he fells [²for himself ¹cedars], and he takes the holm oak and the oak; and he strengthened for himself the tree from the grove which the lord planted -- a pine; and the rain lengthened it, 15 that it might be for men to burn. And taking of it he warms himself, and in burning they bake bread loaves upon it; and with the remaining he works out gods, and does obeisance to them. He made it a carved idol, and he bends to them; 16 of which the half of it he incinerates in fire, and upon the half of it [²meat ¹he ate] -- roasting he roasted a roast, and he was filled up. And heating himself he said, It is agreeable to me, for I was heated, and I beheld a fire. 17 And the rest he makes into [²god ¹a carved]; he bends to it and does obeisance, and prays to it, saying, Deliver me, for [²my god ¹your are]! 18 They do not know to think, for they were blurred to see with their eyes, and to comprehend with their heart. 19 And he considered not in his soul, nor knew in intellect that the half of it he incinerated by fire, and baked [²upon ³its coals ¹bread loaves], and [²roasting ³meat ¹ate]; and the rest of it [²into ³an abomination ¹he made]. And they do obeisance to it. 20 Know that [²is ashes ¹their heart]! and they err, and no one is able to rescue his soul. Behold! you shall not say that, Is there a lie in my right hand? 21 Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel! for [³my servant ²are ¹you]; I shaped you to be my servant. And you, O Israel, do not forget me! 22 Behold, I wiped away [²as ³a cloud ¹your lawless deeds], and [²as ³dimness ¹your sin]. Turn to me! and I shall ransom you. 23 Be glad, O heavens! for [⁴showed mercy ¹the ²God ³of Israel]. Trump, O foundations of the earth! Yell out, O mountains in gladness, O hills, and all the trees in them! for [²ransomed ¹the lord] Jacob, and Israel shall be glorified. 24 Thus says the lord, the one ransoming you, and the one shaping you from the belly, I am the lord, the one completing all things. I stretched out the heaven alone, and solidified the earth. 25 Who other shall efface the signs of the ones who deliver oracles, and divinations from the heart; to turn the intelligent ones unto the rear, and their counsel being moronish; 26 and establishing the discourse of his servant, and [²the ³counsel ⁴of his messengers ¹verifying]; the one saying to Jerusalem, You shall be inhabited; and to the cities of Judea, You shall be built, and her desolate places I shall raise up. 27 The one saying to the deep, You shall be made desolate, and [²your rivers ¹I will dry up]. 28 The one telling Cyrus, Think, and all my wants he will do; the one saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built, and [³house ²of my holy ¹I shall lay the foundation].