Isaiah 44

1Now listen, Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.

2Thus says Yahweh who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you: Do not fear, Jacob my servant, and Jeshurun whom I have chosen.

3For I will pour water upon those who thirst and streams upon the dry land; I will pour my Spirit upon your seed and my blessing upon your offspring.

4They will spring up among the grass like willows beside streams of water.

5One will say, "I am Yahweh's"; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; and another will write on his hand "to Yahweh," and surname himself by the name of Israel.

6Thus says Yahweh, king of Israel and his redeemer Yahweh of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; apart from me no God exists.

7Who is like me—who will call, declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? Let them declare the coming things and those that will arrive, to them.

8Do not fear, nor be afraid. Have I not announced it to you from the beginning and declared it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? No, there is no Rock that I know.

9Those who fashion idols are all confusion, and the things they desire bring no benefit—their witnesses, even they themselves, neither see nor know, to their shame.

10Who shapes a god or casts an image that cannot do good?

11Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, and the craftsmen—they are men. Let them all assemble, let them stand; they will fear, they will be put to shame together.

12The ironsmith wields tongs and labors over the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it by the strength of his arm; he hungers too, with no power left—he drinks no water and grows weary.

13The wood craftsman stretches a line, marks it out with a marking line, shapes it with planes and a compass, marks it out, and fashions it like a man's form—with human beauty—to dwell in a house.

14He fells cedars for himself, takes cypress and oak, and makes one strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants it, and the rain makes it grow.

15It becomes fuel for a man to burn; he takes some of it and warms himself, indeed kindles it and bakes bread, indeed fashions a god and bows down to it, makes it a carved image, and prostrates himself before it.

16He burns half in the fire; with the other half he eats meat, roasts a roast, and has his fill. Indeed, he warms himself and says, "Aha! I am warm; I have seen fire."

17He makes the rest of it into a god, his carved image; he bows down to it and worships, prays to it, and says, "Save me, for you are my god."

18They do not know nor understand, for he has shut their eyes from seeing and their hearts from understanding.

19No one brings it back to his heart, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, "I burned half of it in the fire; indeed, I baked bread upon its coals, roast meat and eat it—shall I make its remainder an abomination? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

20He feeds on ashes; a deluding heart has led him astray, and he cannot rescue his soul nor say, "Doesn't my right hand hold a lie?"

21Remember these, Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant; I have formed you; you are my servant, Israel; you will not be forgotten by me.

22I have wiped away your transgressions like a thick cloud, and your sins like a cloud; return to me, for I have redeemed you.

23Rejoice, heavens, for Yahweh has accomplished it; shout, depths of the earth; burst into song, mountains, forest and every tree in it, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and in Israel he will glorify himself.

24Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer and fashioner from the womb: I, Yahweh, make all things, stretch out the heavens alone, and spread the earth by myself.

25who thwarts the signs of liars and drives soothsayers mad, who turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge folly.

26Who establishes his servant’s word and fulfills his messengers’ counsel, who says to Jerusalem, “She will be inhabited,” and to the cities of Judah, “They will be built,” and “I will raise up her ruins.”

27who says to the deep, "Dry up," and "I will dry up your rivers."

28who says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd, and shall fulfill all my purpose,” even saying to Jerusalem, “She shall be built,” and to the temple, “It shall be founded.”