1 Now, this is what the Lord says,the one who created you, O Jacob,and formed you, O Israel:“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you.I call you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I am with you;when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;the flames will not harm you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer.I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price,Ethiopia and Seba in place of you.
4 Since you are precious and special in my sight,and I love you,I will hand over people in place of you,nations in place of your life.
5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.From the east I will bring your descendants;from the west I will gather you.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Hand them over!’and to the south, ‘Don’t hold any back!’Bring my sons from distant lands,and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,
7 everyone who belongs to me,whom I created for my glory,whom I formed – yes, whom I made!
8 Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,those who are deaf, even though they have ears!
9 All nations gather together,the peoples assemble.Who among them announced this?Who predicted earlier events for us?Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right;let them listen and affirm, ‘It is true.’
10 You are my witnesses,” says the Lord,“my servant whom I have chosen,so that you may consider and believe in me,and understand that I am he.No god was formed before me,and none will outlive me.
11 I, I am the Lord,and there is no deliverer besides me.
12 I decreed and delivered and proclaimed,and there was no other god among you.You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God.
13 From this day forward I am he;no one can deliver from my power;I will act, and who can prevent it?”
14 This is what the Lord says,your protector, the Holy One of Israel:“For your sake I send to Babylonand make them all fugitives,turning the Babylonians’ joyful shouts into mourning songs.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,the one who created Israel, your king.”
16 This is what the Lord says,the one who made a road through the sea,a pathway through the surging waters,
17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction,together with a mighty army.They fell down, never to rise again;they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
18 “Don’t remember these earlier events;don’t recall these former events.
19 “Look, I am about to do something new.Now it begins to happen! Do you not recognize it?Yes, I will make a road in the desertand paths in the wilderness.
20 The wild animals of the desert honor me,the jackals and ostriches,because I put water in the desertand streams in the wilderness,to quench the thirst of my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself,so they might praise me.”
22 “But you did not call for me, O Jacob;you did not long for me, O Israel.
23 You did not bring me lambs for your burnt offerings;you did not honor me with your sacrifices.I did not burden you with offerings;I did not make you weary by demanding incense.
24 You did not buy me aromatic reeds;you did not present to me the fat of your sacrifices.Yet you burdened me with your sins;you made me weary with your evil deeds.
25 I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake;your sins I do not remember.
26 Remind me of what happened! Let’s debate!You, prove to me that you are right!
27 The father of your nation sinned;your spokesmen rebelled against me.
28 So I defiled your holy princes,and handed Jacob over to destruction,and subjected Israel to humiliating abuse.”