1 But now listen, Jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen.

Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:

2 This is what the LORD says—your Maker and the One who formed you from the womb, who helps you: 'Do not fear, my servant Jacob, and Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.'

Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring.

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

4 They will sprout up like grass among the meadows, like willows by flowing streams.

And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

5 One will say, 'I belong to the LORD,' another will call on the name of Jacob, and still another will write on his hand, 'Belonging to the LORD,' and will honor the name of Israel.

One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

6 This is what the LORD, the King of Israel and His Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts, says: 'I am the first, and I am the last; apart from Me, there is no God.'

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

7 Who is like Me? Let him declare and explain it. Let him present it to Me since I established the ancient people. Let them declare the things that are to come and what will happen.

And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and declare it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides Me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

9 All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses see nothing and know nothing, so they will be put to shame.

They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

10 Who fashions a god or casts an idol that can profit nothing?

Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

11 Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, and the craftsmen are mere men. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will be terrified and put to shame together.

Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

12 The blacksmith works with iron, shaping it in the coals. He hammers it with his tools and works it with the strength of his arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and becomes faint.

The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

13 The carpenter measures out wood; he marks it with a stylus. He shapes it with chisels and marks it with a compass. He crafts it in the form of a man, a human figure, to dwell in a house.

The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

14 He cuts down cedars or chooses a cypress or an oak. He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain makes it grow.

He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

15 It becomes fuel for a man; he takes part of it to warm himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.

Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire; he roasts meat over it, eats, and is satisfied. He warms himself and says, 'Ah, I am warm; I see the fire.'

He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol, and bows down to it. He worships it and prays to it, saying, 'Save me, for you are my god.'

And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

18 They have no knowledge or understanding; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their hearts so they cannot understand.

They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

19 No one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, 'Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals, roasted meat, and ate. Now, should I make an abomination of the rest? Should I bow down to a block of wood?'

And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

20 He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, 'Isn't there a lie in my right hand?'

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

21 Remember 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.

Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

22 I have wiped away your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

23 Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, O depths of the earth! Burst into song, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and displays his glory in Israel.

Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

24 This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: 'I am the LORD, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens by myself and spreads out the earth by my own hand.'

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

25 I frustrate the signs of false prophets and make fools of diviners; I turn wise men backward and make their knowledge foolish.

That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

26 I confirm the word of my servant and carry out the plan of my messengers. I say to Jerusalem, 'You will be inhabited,' and to the cities of Judah, 'You will be rebuilt,' and I will restore their ruins.

That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

27 I say to the deep waters, 'Be dry,' and I will dry up your rivers.

That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

28 I say of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he will accomplish all that I please.' I say to Jerusalem, 'You will be rebuilt,' and to the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'

That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.