Isaiah 43:14 – 44: 5

 

14: These are the words of the Lord your redeemer, the Holy one of Israel
For your sakes I shall send an army to Babylon and lay the Chaldeans prostrate as they flee their cry of triumph will turn to lamentation

15: Israel I am Lord, your Holy One, your Creator and your King

16: This is the word of the Lord, who opened a way in the sea, a path through the mighty waters,

17: who drew on chariot and horse t their destruction, an army in all its strength;
they lay down never to rise again;
they were extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

18: Stop dwelling on past events
and brooding over days gone by.

19: I am about t do something new;
this moment it will unfold.
Can you not perceive it?
Even through the wilderness I shall make away, and paths in the barren desert.

20: The wild beasts will do me honour,
the wolf and the desert Owl,
for I shall provide water in the wilderness
and rivers in the barren desert,
where my chosen people may drink,

21: this people I have formed for myself,
and they will proclaim my praises.

22: Yet Jacob, you did not call upon me;
much less did you Israel, wear yourself in my service.

23: You did not bring me whole offerings from your flock or honour me with your sacrifices;
I did not exact grain offerings from you
Or weary you with demands for frankincense.

24: You did not but me aromatic cane with your money or sate me with the fat of your sacrifices.
Rather you burdened me with your sins
And wearied me with your crimes

25: I am the Lord;
for my sake I wipe out your transgressions
and remember your sins no more

26: Cite me to appear, let us argue it out;
set forth your pleading and establish your innocence.

27: Your first forefather transgressed,
your spokesmen rebelled against me,

28: and your leaders desecrated my sanctuary;
that is why I put Jacob under solemn curse
and left Israel to be reviled.

Chapter 44

1: Hear me now, Jacob my servant;
Israel my chosen one, hear me.

2: Thus says the Lord your maker,
your helper, who fashioned you from birth:
Have no fear, Jacob my servant,
Jeshurun whom I have chosen,

3: for I shall pour down rain on thirsty land,
showers on dry ground.
I shall pour out my spirit on your offspring
And my blessings on your children.

4: They will grow up like a green Tamarisk,
like willows by flowing streams:

5: This person will say “I am the Lord’s;
That one will call himself a son of Jacob;
Another will write the Lord’s name on his hand
and the name of Israel will be added to his own.