1-5 “But for now, dear servant Jacob, listen—yes, you, Israel, my personal choice.God who made you has something to say to you;the God who formed you in the womb wants to help you.Don’t be afraid, dear servant Jacob,Jeshurun, the one I chose.For I will pour water on the thirsty groundand send streams coursing through the parched earth.I will pour my Spirit into your descendantsand my blessing on your children.They shall sprout like grass on the prairie,like willows alongside creeks.This one will say, ‘I am God’s,’and another will go by the name Jacob;That one will write on his hand ‘God’s property’—and be proud to be called Israel.”
6-8 God, King of Israel,your Redeemer, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, says:“I’m first, I’m last, and everything in between.I’m the only God there is.Who compares with me?Speak up. See if you measure up.From the beginning, who else has always announced what’s coming?So what is coming next? Anybody want to venture a try?Don’t be afraid, and don’t worry:Haven’t I always kept you informed, told you what was going on?You’re my eyewitnesses:Have you ever come across a God, a real God, other than me?There’s no Rock like me that I know of.”
9-11 All those who make no-god idols don’t amount to a thing, and what they work so hard at making is nothing. Their little puppet-gods see nothing and know nothing—they’re total embarrassments! Who would bother making gods that can’t do anything, that can’t “god”? Watch all the no-god worshipers hide their faces in shame. Watch the no-god makers slink off humiliated when their idols fail them. Get them out here in the open. Make them face God-reality.
12 The blacksmith makes his no-god, works it over in his forge, hammering it on his anvil—such hard work! He works away, fatigued with hunger and thirst.