Isaiah 44

1 “Yet now hear, O Jacob (Yaaqov) My servant; and Yisrael, whom I have chosen:

2 Thus saith יהוה that made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob (Yaaqov), My servant; and you, Yeshurun, 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 your seed, and My blessing upon your offspring:

4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.’

5 One shall say, ‘I am יהוה’s;’ and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob (Yaaqov); and another shall subscribe on his hand: ‘יהוה’s’, and surname himself by the name of Yisrael.

6 Thus saith יהוה the King of Yisrael and his Redeemer, יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot): ‘I am the First, and I am the Last; and besides Me there is no God (Elohim).

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 you not, neither be afraid; have not I told you from that time, and have declared it? You are even My witnesses. Is there a God (Eloah) besides Me? Yea, there is no Rock; 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 (el), 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 you are my god (eli).”

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 (Yaaqov) and Yisrael; for you are My servant. I have formed you; you are My servant; O Yisrael, you shalt not be forgotten of Me!

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return unto Me, for I have redeemed you.”

23 Sing, O you heavens; for יהוה hath done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree therein; for יהוה hath redeemed Jacob (Yaaqov), and glorified Himself in Yisrael.

24 Thus saith יהוה, your Redeemer, and He that formed you from the womb: “I am יהוה that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself;

25 That 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 (Yerushalayim), ‘You shalt be inhabited;’ and to the cities of Judah (Yehudah), ‘You shall be built,’ and I will raise up the decayed places thereof;

27 That saith to the deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers’;

28 That saith of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure; even saying to Yerushalayim, “You shalt be built;” and to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’