Isaiah 48

1 Hear you this, O house of Jacob (Yaaqov), who are called by the name of Yisrael, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah (Yehudah), which swear by the name of יהוה, and make mention of the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), but not in truth, nor in righteousness.

2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael); יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot) is His name.

3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of My mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.

4 Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass;

5 I have even from the beginning declared it to you; before it came to pass I shewed it you; lest you shouldest say, ‘Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.’

6 “You have heard, see all this; and will not you declare it? I have shewed you new things from this time, even hidden things, and you didst not know them.

7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when you heardest them not; lest you shouldest say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’

8 Yea, you heardest not; yea, you knewest not; yea, from that time that your ear was not opened; for I knew that you wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

9 “For My name’s sake will I defer Mine anger, and for My praise will I refrain for you, that I cut you not off.

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.

11 For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it; for how should My name be polluted? And I will not give My glory unto another.

12 Hearken unto Me, O Jacob (Yaaqov) and Yisrael, My called: I am He, I am the First, I also am the Last.

13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens; when I call unto them, they stand up together.

14 All you, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? יהוה hath loved him; he will do His pleasure on Babylon (Bavel), and His arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.

16 Come you near unto me, hear you this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I. And now, Lord (Adonai) יהוה and His Spirit hath sent me.”

17 Thus saith יהוה, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Yisrael: “I am יהוה your God (Elohim) Who teacheth you to profit, Who leadeth you by the way that you shouldest go.

18 O that you hadst hearkened to My commandments! Then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea.

19 Your seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of your bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before Me.”

20 Go you forth of Babylon (Bavel), flee you from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing declare you, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say you, “יהוה hath redeemed His servant Jacob (Yaaqov).”

21 And they thirsted not when He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: He clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

22 “There is no peace,” saith יהוה, “unto the wicked.”