Israel’s Only Savior

1And, thus says YHWH,

the One creating you, O Jacob,

and the One forming you, O Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you,

I have called you by your name; you are unto Me.

2When you pass through the waters,

I am with you,

and through the rivers,

they will not engulf you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be scorched;

and the flame will not burn you.

3For I, YHWH, am your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I have given Egypt for your ransom,

Cush† and Seba in your place.

4Since you are precious in My eyes, You have been honored,

and I love you.

And I appoint man in place of you,

and peoples in exchange for your soul.

5Do not fear, for I am with you;

from the east I will bring your seed,

and from the west I will gather you.

6I will say to the north, ‘Give!

And to the south, ‘Restrain!’

Do not bring My sons from afar,

and My daughters from the ends of the earth—

7all being called by My name—

and for My glory I have created him;

I have formed him; yes, I have made him!’”

8Bring forth a people blind, and who have eyes,

and deaf, and ears are unto them!

9All the nations will be gathered together,

and the peoples will be assembled.

Who among them can declare this,

and former things report to us?

Let them give their witnesses, that they may be justified,

and hear and say, “It is the truth.”

10“You⁺ are My witnesses,” a declaration of YHWH,

“And My servant whom I have chosen,

that you⁺ may know and believe in Me,

and understand that I am He.

Before Me no god was formed,

and none will be after Me.

11I—I am YHWH,

and besides Me there is no one saving.

12I have declared it and saved and proclaimed,

and there is no one strange among you⁺!

And you⁺ are My witnesses,” a declaration of YHWH,

“And I am God.

13Also from today, I am He—

and there is no one snatching from My hand;

I act, and who can turn it back?”

A Way in the Wilderness

14Thus says YHWH, your⁺ Redeemer,

the Holy One of Israel:

“For your⁺ sake I will send to Babylon

and bring them all down as fugitives,

and the Chaldeans†

in the ships of their rejoicing.

15I am YHWH, your⁺ Holy One,

the Creator of Israel, your⁺ King.”

16Thus says YHWH, the One giving a way in the sea,

and a path in the mighty waters;

17the One bringing forth the chariot and horse,

the army and its might together;

they will lie down, and they will not rise;

they are extinguished; like a wick they are quenched.

18“Do not remember the former things,

and the things before do not consider.

19Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth—do you⁺ not know it?

Indeed I am making a way in the wilderness,

streams in the wasteland.

20The beast of the field will honor Me,

the jackals† and daughters of the ostrich,†

because I give waters in the wilderness,

streams in the wasteland,

to give drink to My people, My chosen,

21this people I have formed for Myself—

they will recount My praise.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness
(Judges 2:10–15; Jeremiah 2:23–37)

22And not Me you have called, O Jacob,

for you have grown weary of Me, O Israel.

23You have not brought to Me sheep as your burnt offerings,

and with your sacrifices you have not honored Me;

I have not made you serve with grain offerings,

and I have not wearied you with incense.

24You have not bought Me sweet cane with silver,

and with the fat of your sacrifices you have not satisfied Me;

but you have made Me serve with your sins

and have wearied Me with your iniquities.

25I—I am He,

the One wiping out your transgressions for My own sake,

and your sins I will not remember.

26Remind Me, let us argue together;

give an account for yourself, that you may be vindicated!

27Your first father sinned,

and your spokesmen have rebelled against me.

28And I will defile the princes of the sanctuary,

and I will devote Jacob to destruction,† and Israel to reviling.”