Isaiah

God Comforts His People

But now listen, Jacob my servant,Israel whom I have chosen:

This is what the Lord says— he who made you and will help you, he who formed you from the womb: Fear not, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water upon the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my spirit upon your race and my blessing upon your offspring.

They will spring up like grass, like poplars beside the flowing streams.

One will say, “I belong to the Lord”; Another will call himself by Jacob’s name. On his hand, another will write “Lord” and take the name of Israel.

This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Sabaoth: I am the first and the last, there is no other God besides me.

Who then is like me? Let him stand up and speak, let him argue this out with me. Who from the beginning has foretold the future and revealed to us what was to come?

Do not be afraid or troubled. Have I not proclaimed and foretold this long ago? You are my witnesses; is there a God besides me or another Rock? I know of none.

Satire Against Idolatry

Good-for-nothing are all idol makers, and useless are the works they prize so much. Their witnesses, blind and ignorant, will be put to shame.

Who ever fashioned a god or cast an idol without hope of gain? See how its devotees will be ridiculed, for its craftsmen are but humans.

Let them all assemble; let them come to court; they will be both terrified and scorned.

The blacksmith works on an iron figure over the fire and hammers it into shape. He becomes hungry and tired; he grows exhausted if there is no water to drink.

In the same way, the wood carver measures and marks the outline of an idol and carves it with chisels, giving it a physical form and a human face so it may reside in a shrine.

He cut down cedars, maybe took an oak or cypress from the forest, or perhaps planted a cedar that the rain helped it grow.

For the ordinary people, that means fuel they use to warm themselves and cook food. But the craftsman carves an idol out of the trunk of the tree, which he worships and before which he bows.

The leftover part he burns to warm himself; over its live embers, he roasts meat and feels satisfied. He says, “Well and good; I feel warm and enjoy the light.”

The other part he has made into an idol, which he worships and bows before, praying, “Rescue me, for you are my god.”

They lack understanding and discernment, for they have closed their minds to understanding and their hearts to reason.

None of them has the intelligence to reflect or the sense to say: “I burned half the log, and on its embers, I baked bread and roasted meat. Should I then make a dirty idol out of what’s left? Am I supposed to worship a block of wood?”

Only someone with a deluded mind can cling to ashes. Will he not at least save himself and confess: “Is it not a lie?”

Redemption of Israel

Remember this, Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel, I have formed you to be my servant; Israel, do not forget me.

I have blotted out your offenses as a thick cloud, your sins as a mist. Return to me, for I am redeeming you.

Sing gladly, O heavens, for the Lord has done this. Shout aloud, O earth below! Burst into song, you mountains, you forests with all your trees! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and showed his glory to Israel.

I Am the Lord

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: I am the Lord who made all things, I alone stretched out the heavens, and spread out the earth. Who helped me?

I am he who thwarts the omens of false prophets, who makes fools of diviners, who turns the wise back and makes nonsense of their knowledge.

I confirm the word of my servant and carry out the plan announced by my messengers. I am he who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be inhabited,” and of the towns of Judah, “They shall be rebuilt; I will restore their ruins.”

I am he who says to the ocean: “Be dry, I will dry up your wellsprings!”

I call on Cyrus, “My shepherd!” and he goes to fulfill my will. I say to Jerusalem, “Be rebuilt!” and see: the cornerstone is laid.