Isaiæ 44
1 Et nunc audi Iacob serve meus, et Israel quem elegi:
Now listen, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2 Hæc dicit Dominus faciens et formans te, ab utero Auxiliator tuus: noli timere serve meus Iacob, et rectissime, quem elegi.
This is what Yahweh says, he who made you and formed you in the womb and who will help you: “Do not fear, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 Effundam enim aquas super sitientem, et fluenta super aridam: effundam spiritum meum super semen tuum, et benedictionem meam super stirpem tuam.
For I will pour water on the thirsty ground, and flowing streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your children.
4 Et germinabunt inter herbas quasi salices iuxta præterfluentes aquas.
They will spring up among the grass, like willows by the streams of water.
5 Iste dicet: Domini ego sum: et ille vocabit in nomine Iacob, et hic scribet manu sua: Domino: et in nomine Israel assimilabitur.
One will say, 'I belong to Yahweh,' and another will call out the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand 'Belonging to Yahweh,' and name himself by the name of Israel.”
6 Hæc dicit Dominus Rex Israel, et Redemptor eius Dominus exercituum: Ego primus, et ego novissimus, et absque me non est Deus.
This is what Yahweh says—the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts: “I am the first, and I am the last; and there is no God but me.
7 Quis similis mei? Vocet, et annunciet: et ordinem exponat mihi, ex quo constitui populum antiquum: ventura et quæ futura sunt annuncient eis.
Who is like me? Let him announce it and explain to me the events that occurred since I established my ancient people, and let them declare the events to come.
8 Nolite timere, neque conturbemini: ex tunc audire te feci, et annunciavi: vos estis testes mei. Numquid est Deus absque me, et formator, quem ego non noverim?
Do not fear or be afraid. Have I not declared to you long ago, and announced it? You are my witnesses: Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock; I know of none.”
9 Plastæ idoli omnes nihil sunt, et amantissima eorum non proderunt eis. Ipsi sunt testes eorum, quia non vident, neque intelligunt, ut confundantur.
All who fashion idols are nothing; the things they delight in are worthless; their witnesses cannot see or know anything, and they will be put to shame.
10 Quis formavit deum, et sculptile conflavit ad nihil utile?
Who would form a god or cast an idol that is worthless?
11 Ecce omnes participes eius confundentur: fabri enim sunt ex hominibus: convenient omnes, stabunt et pavebunt, et confundentur simul.
Look, all his associates will be put to shame; the craftsmen are only men. Let them take their stand together; they will cower and be put to shame.
12 Faber ferrarius lima operatus est: in prunis, et in malleis formavit illud, et operatus est in brachio fortitudinis suæ: esuriet et deficiet, non bibet aquam, et lassescet.
The smith works with his tools, forming it, working over the coals. He shapes it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength wanes; he drinks no water and becomes faint.
13 Artifex lignarius extendit normam, formavit illud in runcina: fecit illud in angularibus, et in circino tornavit illud: et fecit imaginem viri quasi speciosum hominem habitantem in domo.
The carpenter measures the wood with a line, and marks it with a stylus. He shapes it with his tools and marks it out with a compass. He shapes it after the figure of a man, like an attractive human, so it may stay in a house.
14 Succidit cedros, tulit ilicem, et quercum, quæ steterat inter ligna saltus: plantavit pinum, quam pluvia nutrivit.
He cuts down cedars, or chooses a cypress tree or an oak tree. He picks for himself trees in the forest. He plants a fir tree and the rain makes it grow.
15 Et facta est hominibus in focum: sumpsit ex eis, et calefactus est: et succendit, et coxit panes: de reliquo autem operatus est deum, et adoravit: fecit sculptile, et curvatus est ante illud.
Then a man uses it for a fire and warms himself. Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes from it a god and bows down to it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.
16 Medium eius combussit igni, et de medio eius carnes comedit: coxit pulmentum, et saturatus est, et calefactus est, et dixit: Vah, calefactus sum, vidi focum.
He burns part of the wood for the fire, roasting his meat over it. He eats and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, “Ah, I am warm, I have seen the fire.”
17 Reliquum autem eius deum fecit et sculptile sibi: curvatur ante illud, et adorat illud, et obsecrat, dicens: Libera me, quia deus meus es tu.
With the rest of the wood he makes a god, his carved image; he bows down to it and reverences it, and prays to it saying, “Rescue me, for you are my god.”
18 Nescierunt, neque intellexerunt: obliti enim sunt ne videant oculi eorum, et ne intelligant corde suo.
They do not know, nor do they understand, for their eyes are blind and cannot see, and their hearts cannot perceive.
19 Non recogitant in mente sua, neque cognoscunt, neque sentiunt, ut dicant: Medietatem eius combussi igni, et coxi super carbones eius panes: coxi carnes et comedi, et de reliquo eius idolum faciam? Ante truncum ligni procidam?
No one thinks, nor do they comprehend and say, “I have burned part of the wood in the fire; yes, I have also baked bread upon its coals. I have roasted meat over its coals and eaten. Now should I make the other part of the wood into something disgusting to worship? Should I bow down to a block of wood?”
20 Pars eius cinis est: cor insipiens adoravit illud, et non liberabit animam suam, neque dicet: Forte mendacium est in dextera mea.
It is as if he were eating ashes; his deceived heart misleads him. He cannot rescue himself, nor does he say, “This thing in my right hand is a false god.”
21 Memento horum Iacob, et Israel, quoniam servus meus es tu. Formavi te, servus meus es tu Israel, ne obliviscaris mei.
Think about these things, Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant: I have formed you; you are my servant: Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22 Delevi ut nubem iniquitates tuas, et quasi nebulam peccata tua: revertere ad me, quoniam redemi te.
I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your rebellious deeds, and like a cloud, your sins; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
23 Laudate cæli, quoniam misericordiam fecit Dominus: iubilate extrema terræ, resonate montes laudationem, saltus et omne lignum eius: quoniam redemit Dominus Iacob, et Israel gloriabitur.
Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done this; shout, you depths of the earth. Break out into singing, you mountains, you forest with every tree in it; for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will show his glory in Israel.
24 Hæc dicit Dominus Redemptor tuus, et Formator tuus ex utero: Ego sum Dominus, faciens omnia, extendens cælos solus, stabiliens terram, et nullus mecum.
This is what Yahweh says, your Redeemer, he who formed you from the womb: “I am Yahweh, who made everything, who alone stretched out the heavens, who alone fashioned the earth.
25 Irrita faciens signa divinorum, et ariolos in furorem vertens. Convertens sapientes retrorsum: et scientiam eorum stultam faciens.
I who frustrate the omens of the empty talkers and who disgrace those who read omens; I who overturn the wisdom of the wise and make their advice foolish.
26 Suscitans verbum servi sui, et consilium nunciorum suorum complens. Qui dico Ierusalem: Habitaberis; et civitatibus Iuda: Ædificabimini, et deserta eius suscitabo.
I, Yahweh, who confirmed the words of his servant and brings to pass the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'She will be inhabited,' and of the towns of Judah, 'They will be built again, and I will raise up their ruins';
27 Qui dico profundo: Desolare, et flumina tua arefaciam.
who says to the deep sea, 'Be dry, and I will dry up your currents.'
28 Qui dico Cyro: Pastor meus es, et omnem voluntatem meam complebis. Qui dico Ierusalem: Ædificaberis; et templo: Fundaberis.
Yahweh is the one who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, he will do my every wish; he will decree about Jerusalem, 'She will be rebuilt,' and about the temple, 'Let its foundations be laid.'”
