God's promise to Israel. h 6 ISAIAH, XLI. t The vanity of idols. mer him that smote the anvil, saying, It | fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will is ready for the soldering: and he fastened make the wilderness a pool of water, and it with nails, that it should not be moved. the dry land springs of water. 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have 'chosen, the seed of Abraham ! my friend. k 9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10 Fear thou not; m for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded they shall be as nothing; and 7they that strive with thee shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye 10 men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having "teeth: thou "1 teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. 16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. 17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers in high places, and 19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: 20 "That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it. 21 12 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. X 22 Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may 3 consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. 23 Show the things that are to come. hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. 24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work 15 of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. b a 14 25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay. d 26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. 27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. 28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 16 r ch. 45. 25. u Job 12. 9. 12 Heb. Cause to come near. x ch. 45. 21. 13 Heb. set our heart upon them. y ch. 42. 9. & 44, 7, 8. & 45. 3. John 13. 19. 14 Or, worse than nothing. ch. 44. 9. 1 Cor. 8. 4. f ch. 40. 9. z Jer. 10. 5. 16 Or, worse than of a viper. a l's. 115. 8. b Ezra 1. 2. e ver. 2. d ch. 43. 9. e ver. 4. The servant of Jehovah. 2 His character. 5 God's promise unto him. 10 An exhortation to praise God for his salvation. 17 His rebuke of Israel for their unbelief. [B. c. 712.] Exhortation to praise God. thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man BEHOLD my servant, whom I uphold; of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall b r ས mine elect, in whom my soul delight-prevail against his enemies. eth; I have put my Spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the 'smoking flax shall he not 'quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 3 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he hath set judgment in the earth: d and the isles shall wait for his law. 5¶ Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; 'he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; she that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them. that walk therein : 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, 'and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; k m 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in "darkness out of the prison house. 8 I am the LORD; that is my name: and my ° glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. q 10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. 14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once. 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. 18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. t 19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? 20 Seeing many things, "but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. 21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. 9 8 22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for 10 a spoil, 11 Let the wilderness and the cities and none saith, Restore. God's promises to his people. 11 23 Who among you will give ear to this? | name: for 'I have created him for my glory, who will hearken and hear for the time to I have formed him; yea, I have made him. come? 8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. 25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. y e 2 When 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. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: "I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since 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. i 5 Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west: 6 I 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; ། n 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. 10 Ye 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. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. t 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: "therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. X 13 Yea, 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? 14 Thus 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. 15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. 16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; 17 Which 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. 18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19 Behold, 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. e o ch. 41. 21, 22, 26, q ch. 42. 1. & 55. 4. n ch. 6. 9. & 42. 19. Ez. 12. 2. nothing formed of God. 45. 21. Hos. 13. 4. t Deut. 32. 16. Ps. 81. 9. r ch. 41. 4. & 44. 6. u ch. 44. 8. s ch. ver. .0. x Ps. 90. 2. John 8. 58. 3 Heb. turn it back? y Job 9. 12. ch. 14. 27. Heb. bars. z Ex. 14. 16, 22. Ps. 77. 19. ch. 51. 10. a Josh. 3. 13, 16. b Ex. 14. 4-9, 25. d 2 Cor. 5. 17. Rev. 21. 5. c Jer. 16. 14. & 23. 7. e Ex. 17. 6. Num. 20. 11. Deut. 8. 15. Ps. 78. 16. ch. 35. 6. & 41. 18. God rebuketh the people. 5 ISAIAH, XLIV. 20 The 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. 21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. 22 ¶ But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. 23 Thou 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. 7 24 Thou 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 kwearied me with thine iniquities. 25 I, even I, am he that 'blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, "and will not remember thy sins. 26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified. 27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy 8 teachers have trangressed against me. 28 Therefore I have profaned the 'princes of the sanctuary, P and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches. Blessings promised to Israel. is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 5 One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel. e 6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD of hosts; 'I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: "have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no 'God; I know not any. 1 k 9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. n m 10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? 11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed; and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. 3 12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. 13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it CHAP. XLIV.-a ver. 21. ch. 41. 8. & 43. 1. Jer. 30. 10. & 46, 27, 28, b ch. 43. 1, 7. Acts 2. 18. & 22. 13. c Deut. 32. 15. e ver. 24. ch. 43. 1, 14. g ch. 41. 4, 22. & 45. 21. d ch. 35. 7. Joel 2. 28. Jolin 7.3. fch. 41. 4. & 48, 12. Rev. 1. M, 17. h ch. 41, 22. i ch. B. 10, 12 Heb 2 Sam. 22. 32. ch. 45. 5. 2 Hleb, desirable. m. P. 115, 4, 42 k Deut. 4. 35, 3J. & 32. 39. 1 Sam. 2. 2. rock. Deut. 32. 4. 1 ch. 41. 24, 29. Hab. 2. 18. o Ps. 97. 7. ch. 1. 29, & 42. 17. & 45. 16. p_ch. 40. 19. & 41. 6. Jer. 10. 3, &c. n Jer. 10. 5. with an axe. with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14 He heweth him down cedars, and I taketh the cypress and the oak, which he 4 strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. 15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. 18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. Israel's deliverance. 27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers : 28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure : even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. y ch. 43. 1. & 48. 20. 1 Cor. 6. 20. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 19. z Ps. 69, 34, & 96, 11, 12, ch 42 10. & 49. 13. Jer. 51. 48. Rev. 18. 20. a ch. 43. 14. ver. 6. b ch. 5. 30. i 2 Chr. 36. 22, 23. Ezra 1. 1, &c. ch. 45. 13. 1 Or, strengthened. b ch. 41. 2. Dan. |