NET Bible | New Living Translation |
1Now, this is what the LORD says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: "Don't be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine. | 1But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. |
2When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you. | 2When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. |
3For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer. I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price, Ethiopia and Seba in place of you. | 3For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. |
4Since you are precious and special in my sight, and I love you, I will hand over people in place of you, nations in place of your life. | 4Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. |
5Don't be afraid, for I am with you. From the east I will bring your descendants; from the west I will gather you. | 5“Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west. |
6I will say to the north, 'Hand them over!' and to the south, 'Don't hold any back!' Bring my sons from distant lands, and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth, | 6I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth. |
7everyone who belongs to me, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed--yes, whom I made! | 7Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.’” |
8Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, those who are deaf, even though they have ears! | 8Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. |
9All nations gather together, the peoples assemble. Who among them announced this? Who predicted earlier events for us? Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right; let them listen and affirm, 'It is true.' | 9Gather the nations together! Assemble the peoples of the world! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Which can predict what will happen tomorrow? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth? |
10You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe in me, and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and none will outlive me. | 10“But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the LORD. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. |
11I, I am the LORD, and there is no deliverer besides me. | 11I, yes I, am the LORD, and there is no other Savior. |
12I decreed and delivered and proclaimed, and there was no other god among you. You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "that I am God. | 12First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the LORD. |
13From this day forward I am he; no one can deliver from my power; I will act, and who can prevent it?" | 13“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” The LORD’s Promise of Victory |
14This is what the LORD says, your protector, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I send to Babylon and make them all fugitives, turning the Babylonians' joyful shouts into mourning songs. | 14This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon, forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of. |
15I am the LORD, your Holy One, the one who created Israel, your king." | 15I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King. |
16This is what the LORD says, the one who made a road through the sea, a pathway through the surging waters, | 16I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. |
17the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, together with a mighty army. They fell down, never to rise again; they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick: | 17I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick. |
18"Don't remember these earlier events; don't recall these former events. | 18“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. |
19"Look, I am about to do something new. Now it begins to happen! Do you not recognize it? Yes, I will make a road in the desert and paths in the wilderness. | 19For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. |
20The wild animals of the desert honor me, the jackals and ostriches, because I put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness, to quench the thirst of my chosen people, | 20The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed. |
21the people whom I formed for myself, so they might praise me." | 21I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world. |
22"But you did not call for me, O Jacob; you did not long for me, O Israel. | 22“But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me, O Israel! |
23You did not bring me lambs for your burnt offerings; you did not honor me with your sacrifices. I did not burden you with offerings; I did not make you weary by demanding incense. | 23You have not brought me sheep or goats for burnt offerings. You have not honored me with sacrifices, though I have not burdened and wearied you with requests for grain offerings and frankincense. |
24You did not buy me aromatic reeds; you did not present to me the fat of your sacrifices. Yet you burdened me with your sins; you made me weary with your evil deeds. | 24You have not brought me fragrant calamus or pleased me with the fat from sacrifices. Instead, you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your faults. |
25I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake; your sins I do not remember. | 25“I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. |
26Remind me of what happened! Let's debate! You, prove to me that you are right! | 26Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case to prove your innocence. |
27The father of your nation sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me. | 27From the very beginning, your first ancestor sinned against me; all your leaders broke my laws. |
28So I defiled your holy princes, and handed Jacob over to destruction, and subjected Israel to humiliating abuse." | 28That is why I have disgraced your priests; I have decreed complete destruction for Jacob and shame for Israel. |
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