Isaiah 43

The Redeemer of Israel

1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, 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 shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;6 I will say to the north, Give them up! And to the south, Do not keep them back! Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears.9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, It is truth.10 You are My witnesses, says the Lord, And 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, Nor shall there be after Me.11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses, Says the Lord, that I am God.13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: For your sake I will send to Babylon, And bring them all down as fugitives The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters,17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):18 Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.20 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

Pleading with Unfaithful Israel

22 But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; And you have been weary of Me, O Israel.23 You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings, Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings, Nor wearied you with incense.24 You have bought Me no sweet cane with money, Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices; But you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities.25 I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.26 Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.27 Your first father sinned, And your mediators have transgressed against Me.28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; I will give Jacob to the curse, And Israel to reproaches.

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.