Isaiah 43

1But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

4Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.footnote a

5Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

6I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

7Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

8Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

10Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.footnote b

11I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

12I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

13Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?footnote c

14Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.footnote d

15I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

16Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

17Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

20The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.footnote e

21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

22But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

23Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.footnote f

24Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.footnote g

25I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

26Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

27Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.footnote h

28Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.footnote i

Israel’s Only Savior

1But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob,and He who formed you, O Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by your name; you are Mine! 2When you pass through the waters,I will be with you;and when you go through the rivers,they will not overwhelm you.When you walk through the fire,you will not be scorched;the flames will not set you ablaze.

3For I am the LORD your God,the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;I give Egypt for your ransom,Cushfootnote aand Seba in your place. 4Because you are precious and honored in My sight,and because I love you,I will give men in exchange for youand nations in place of your life.

5Do not be afraid, for I am with you;I will bring your offspring from the eastand gather you from the west. 6I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’Bring My sons from afar,and My daughters from the ends of the earth— 7everyone called by My name and created for My glory,whom I have indeed formed and made.”

8Bring out a people who have eyes but are blind,and who have ears but are deaf. 9All the nations gather togetherand the peoples assemble.Who among them can declare this,and proclaim to us the former things?Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them,so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

10“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,“and My servant whom I have chosen,so that you may consider and believe Meand understand that I am He.Before Me no god was formed,and after Me none will come. 11I, yes I, am the LORD,and there is no Savior but Me. 12I alone decreed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you.So you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,“that I am God. 13Even from eternity I am He,and none can deliver out of My hand.When I act, who can reverse it?”

A Way in the Wilderness

14Thus says the LORD your Redeemer,the Holy One of Israel:“For your sake, I will send to Babylonand bring them all as fugitives,even the Chaldeans,footnote bin the ships in which they rejoice. 15I am the LORD, your Holy One,the Creator of Israel, and your King.”

16Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the seaand a path through the surging waters, 17who brings out the chariots and horses,the armies and warriors together,to lie down, never to rise again;to be extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

18“Do not call to mind the former things;pay no attention to the things of old. 19Behold, I am about to do something new;even now it is coming. Do you not see it?Indeed, I will make a way in the wildernessand streams in the desert. 20The beasts of the field will honor Me,the jackalsfootnote cand the ostriches,footnote dbecause I provide water in the wildernessand rivers in the desert,to give drink to My chosen people.

21The people I formed for Myselfwill declare My praise.

Israel’s Unfaithfulness

22But you have not called on Me, O Jacob,because you have grown weary of Me, O Israel. 23You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings,nor honored Me with your sacrifices.I have not burdened you with offerings,nor wearied you with frankincense. 24You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver,nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices.But you have burdened Me with your sins;you have wearied Me with your iniquities.

25I, yes I, am Hewho blots out your transgressions for My own sakeand remembers your sins no more. 26Remind Me, let us argue the matter together.State your case, so that you may be vindicated. 27Your first father sinned,and your spokesmen rebelled against Me. 28So I will disgrace the princes of your sanctuary,and I will devote Jacob to destructionfootnote eand Israel to reproach.”