1
Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2
Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which
will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I
have chosen.
3
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry
ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine
offspring:
4
And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water
courses.
5
One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name
of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and
surname himself by the name of Israel.
6
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of
hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
7
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for
me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming,
and shall come, let them shew unto them.
8
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and
have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I
know not any.
9
They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable
things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor
know; that they may be ashamed.
10
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for
nothing?
11
Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of
men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall
fear, and they shall be ashamed together.
12
The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with
hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry,
and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.
13
The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he
fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh
it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may
remain in the house.
14
He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he
strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash,
and the rain doth nourish it.
15
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm
himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and
worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down
thereto.
16
He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he
roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I
am warm, I have seen the fire:
17
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth
down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver
me; for thou art my god.
18
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they
cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19
And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor
understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have
baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and
shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the
stock of a tree?
20
He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he
cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
21
Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed
thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud,
thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23
Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of
the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree
therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb,
I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens
alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and
maketh diviners mad; that
turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26
That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his
messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the
cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places
thereof:
27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
28That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure:
even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy
foundation shall be laid.
44:1-28
