Isaiah 43

Chapter 43

The Savior of Israel

1 But 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.2 When 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.3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopiat and Seba in your place.4 Others 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.5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I will gather you and your children from east and west.6 I will say to the north and south,
‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel
from the distant corners of the earth.7 Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.
It was I who created them.’”8 Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.9 Gather 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?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.11 I, yes I, am the LORD,
and there is no other Savior.12 First 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.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

14 This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon,
forcing the Babylonianst to flee in those ships they are so proud of.15 I am the LORD, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator and King.16 I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters,
making a dry path through the sea.17 I 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 “But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.19 For 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.20 The 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.21 I have made Israel for myself,
and they will someday honor me before the whole world.22 “But, dear family of Jacob, you refuse to ask for my help.
You have grown tired of me, O Israel!23 You 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.24 You 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.25 “I—yes, I alone—will blot out your sins for my own sake
and will never think of them again.26 Let us review the situation together,
and you can present your case to prove your innocence.27 From the very beginning, your first ancestor sinned against me;
all your leaders broke my laws.28 That is why I have disgraced your priests;
I have decreed complete destructiont for Jacob
and shame for Israel.

ISAIAH 43

The [Lord] Has Rescued //His People

1 Descendants of Jacob,
I, the [Lord], created you
and formed your nation.
Israel, don't be afraid.
I have rescued you.
I have called you by name;
now you belong to me.

2 When you cross deep rivers,
I will be with you,
and you won't drown.
When you walk through fire,
you won't be burned
or scorched by the flames.

3 I am the [Lord], your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
the God who saves you.
I gave up Egypt, Ethiopia, t
and the region of Sebat
in exchange for you.

4 To me, you are very dear,
and I love you.
That's why I gave up nations
and people to rescue you.

5 Don't be afraid! I am with you.
From both east and west
I will bring you together.

6 I will say to the north
and to the south,
“Free my sons and daughters!
Let them return
from distant lands.

7 They are my people—
I created each of them
to bring honor to me.”

The [Lord] Alone Is God

The [Lord] said:

8 Bring my people together.
They have eyes and ears,
but they can't see or hear.

9 Tell everyone of every nation
to gather around.
None of them can honestly say,
“We told you so!”
If someone heard them say this,
then tell us about it now.

10 My people, you are my witnesses
and my chosen servant.
I want you to know me,
to trust me, and understand
that I alone am God.
I have always been God;
there can be no others.

11 I alone am the [Lord];
only I can rescue you.

12 I promised to save you,
and I kept my promise.
You are my witnesses
that no other god did this.
I, the [Lord], have spoken.

13 I am God now and forever.
No one can snatch you from me
or stand in my way.

The [Lord] //Will Prepare the Way

14 I, the [Lord], will rescue you!
I am Israel's holy God,
and this is my promise:
For your sake, I will send
an army against Babylon
to drag its people away,
crying as they go.t

15 I am the [Lord], your holy God,
Israel's Creator and King.

16 I am the one who cut a path
through the mighty ocean.

17 I sent an army to chase you
with chariots and horses;
now they lie dead,
unable to move.
They are like an oil lamp
with the flame snuffed out.

Forget the Past

The [Lord] said:

18 Forget what happened long ago!
Don't think about the past.

19 I am creating something new.
There it is! Do you see it?
I have put roads in deserts,
streamst in thirsty lands.

20 Every wild animal honors me,
even jackalst and owls.
I provide water in deserts—
streams in thirsty lands
for my chosen people.

21 I made them my own nation,
so they would praise me.

22 I, the [Lord], said to Israel:
You have become weary of me,
but not from worshiping me.

23 You have not honored me
by sacrificing sheep
or other animals.
And I have not burdened you
with demands for sacrifices
or sweet-smelling incense.

24 You have not brought
delicious spices for me
or given me the best part
of your sacrificed animals.
Instead, you burden me down
with your terrible sins.

25 But I wipe away your sins
because of who I am.
And so, I will forget
the wrongs you have done.

26 Meet me in court!
State your case and prove
that you are right.

27 Your earliest ancestort
and all your leaderst
rebelled against me.

28 That's why I don't allow
your priests to serve me;
I let Israel be destroyed
and your people disgraced.