Isaiah 43

1 But now thus says the LORD who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: "Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.

But now this is what Yahweh says, he who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not scorch you.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned, and the flames will not destroy you.

3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.

For I am Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4 Since you have been precious and honored in my sight, and I have loved you; therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.

Since you are precious and special in my sight, I love you; therefore I will give people in exchange for you, and other peoples in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid; for I am with you. I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and gather you from the west.

6 I will tell the north, 'Give them up.' and tell the south, 'Do not hold them back. Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the farthest parts of the earth—

I will say to the north, 'Hand them over;' and to the south, 'Do not hold any back;' Bring my sons from afar, and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,

7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.'"

everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.

8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.

Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, and the deaf, even though they have ears.

9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, "That is true."

All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them could have declared this and announced to us earlier events? Let them bring their witnesses to prove themselves right, let them listen and affirm, 'It is true.'

10 "You are my witnesses," says the LORD, "With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me.

You are my witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe in me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no god formed, and there will be none after me.

11 I, I am the LORD; and besides me there is no savior.

I, I am Yahweh, and there is no savior but me.

12 I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses," says the LORD, "and I am God.

I have declared, saved, and proclaimed, and there is no other god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares Yahweh, “I am God.

13 Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?"

From this day on I am he, and no one can rescue anyone from my hand. I act, and who can turn it back?”

14 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.

This is what Yahweh says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I send to Babylon and lead them all down as fugitives, turning the Babylonians' expressions of joy into songs of lamentation.

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."

I am Yahweh, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.”

16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

This is what Yahweh says (who opened a way through the sea and a path in the mighty waters,

17 who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick):

who led out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty host. They fell down together; they will never rise again; they are extinguished, quenched like a burning wick.)

18 "Do not remember the former things, and do not consider the things of old.

“Do not think about these former things, nor consider the things of long ago.

19 Look, I will do a new thing. It springs forth now. Do you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Look, I am about to do a new thing; now it begins to happen; do you not perceive it? I will make a road in the desert and streams of water in the wilderness.

20 The animals of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,

The wild animals of the field will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give water in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, for my chosen people to drink,

21 the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.

this people whom I formed for myself, that they might recount my praises.

22 Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.

But you have not called on me, Jacob; you have become tired of me, Israel.

23 You have not brought me of your sheep for burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.

You have not brought me any of your sheep as burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings, nor wearied you with demands for incense.

24 You have bought me no sweet cane with money, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities.

You have bought me no sweet-smelling cane with money, neither have you poured out to me the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened me with your sins, you have wearied me with your evil deeds.

25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.

I, yes, I, am he who blots out your offenses for my own sake; and I will not call to mind your sins any longer.

26 Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified.

Remind me of what happened. Let us debate together; present your cause, that you may be proved innocent.

27 Your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.

Your first father sinned, and your leaders have transgressed against me.

28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling."

Therefore I will defile the holy officials; I will hand Jacob over to complete destruction, and Israel to abusive humiliation.”