Isaiah

Rescue of the People

But now, thus says the Lord,who created you, Jacob, who formed you, Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; neither will the flames consume you.

For I am your savior, I, the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel. I give Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.

Since you are precious in my sight, and important —for I have loved you, I give people in exchange for you and nations in return for your life.

Fear not, for I am with you: I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

I will say to the north: “Give them up!” and to the south: “Do not hold them!” Bring back my sons from afar, my daughters from the ends of the earth,

all those called by my name all I have created for my glory.

The People, Witnesses of God

Lead out my people— who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.

Let the nations gather together, let the people assemble. Who among them can foretell this or declare to us the things to come? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right; let others hear so that they may say: “It is true.”

You are my witnesses, says the Lord, you are my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no God was formed, neither will there be one after me.

I, I am the Lord, there is no savior but me.

It is I who have foretold; I have spoken and made it known, I, not any of your foreign gods. Therefore you are my witnesses —it is the Lord who speaks, I am God.

From ever I am God there is no one who can deliver from my hand. I act, and what I do, no one undoes.

Salvation

Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake, I send an army to Babylon to bring down all their bars. The Chaldeans’ shout of joy will turn into lamentation.

I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.

Thus says the Lord, who opened a way through the sea and a path in the mighty waters,

who brought down chariots and horses, a whole army of them, and there they lay, never to rise again, snuffed out like a wick.

But do not dwell on the past, or remember the things of old.

Look, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth. Do you not see? I am opening up a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

The beasts of the land will honor me, jackals and ostriches, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert that my chosen people may drink.

I have formed this people for myself; they will proclaim my praise.

Indictment Against the People

You have not called upon me, O Jacob, Indeed, you were tired of me, O Israel;

neither have you brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you asking for incense.

You have not spent money on sweet frankincense for me, neither have you satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. Instead you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.

I it is, I am He who blots out your offenses for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

Remind me about the past; let us argue together. Speak up and prove your innocence.

Your first father sinned, and your mediators have rebelled against me.

Therefore I have disgraced the dignitaries of your temple, I have consigned Jacob to destruction, Israel to scorn.