But now hear, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen.

Thus says Jehovah your Maker And the One who formed you from the womb, who will help you, Do not fear, O Jacob, My servant, And Jeshurun whom I have chosen,

For I will pour water upon the thirsty land, And streams upon the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit upon your seed, And My blessing upon your offspring.

They will spring up among the grass, Like poplars beside the flowing streams of water.

One will say, I am Jehovah's; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, I am Jehovah's; He will name himself with the name Israel.

Thus says Jehovah the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts, I am the First and I am the Last, And apart from Me there is no God.

And who can proclaim as I can? Then let him declare it and recount it in order for Me, Since I set forth the people of ancient times. Let them declare to them both the coming things And the things which will take place.

Do not tremble and do not be afraid. Have I not related to you from that time and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Or is there any other Rock? I do not know of any.

All those who make idols are a waste. And the things they delight in will not profit them. And those who are witnesses for them do not see, And they do not know, that they may be put to shame.

Who has formed a god or cast an idol That is of no profit?

Indeed, all those joined to him will be put to shame, For the craftsmen are only men. Let all of them be gathered together, let them stand up; Let them be afraid and be put to shame together.

The ironsmith sharpens a cutting tool, And works over the coals, And forms the idol with hammers, And he works it with the strength of his arm. Yet he becomes hungry and has no strength; If he does not drink water, he faints.

The carpenter stretches out a line; He marks it out with a marking tool; He works it with planes, And marks it with a compass. He makes it according to the likeness of a man, Like the beautiful appearance of man, to dwell in a house.

Someone prepares to cut down cedars for himself, Or he takes a cypress or an oak; He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest; He plants an ash, and the rain nourishes it.

It is also something for a man to burn; He takes one of them and warms himself; He even kindles a fire and bakes bread. With the same he also makes a god and worships it; He makes it into a graven image and bows down before it.

Half of it he burns in a fire; Over this half he eats flesh, And he roasts a roast and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, Ha! I am warm, I have seen fire.

The rest of it he makes into a god, into his idol; He bows down to it and worships it And prays to it and says, Deliver me, for you are my god.

They do not know, and they do not understand, For He has covered their eyes so that they cannot see, And their minds so that they cannot understand.

And no one considers in his heart, And there is no knowledge or understanding to say, I have burned half of it in the fire, And I have even baked bread over its coals; I have roasted flesh and eaten it. Then shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?

He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has led him astray; And he cannot deliver his soul; Nor does he say, Is this not a lie in my right hand?

Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant. I have formed you; you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

I have wiped away, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return unto Me, for I have redeemed you.

Sing for joy, O heavens, for Jehovah has accomplished it. Shout, O lower parts of the earth; Break forth with singing, O mountains, The forest and every tree in it; For Jehovah has redeemed Jacob And is glorified in Israel.

Thus says Jehovah who redeemed you And formed you from the womb, I am Jehovah who makes all things, Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spread out the earth (Who was with Me?);

Who frustrates the signs of liars, And makes fools of the diviners; Who turns back the wise men, And makes their knowledge foolish;

Who confirms the word of His servant, And fulfills the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, She will be inhabited, And to the cities of Judah, They will be built, And I will raise up their ruins;

Who says to the depths, Be dried up, And I will dry up your rivers;

Who says to Cyrus, He is My shepherd, And he will fulfill all My desire, Even by saying of Jerusalem, She will be built, And of the temple, Her foundations will be laid.