1420 Babylonish captivity foretold? ISAIAH. CHAP. XXXIX., XL. God's incomparable power. instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD. 21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover. 22 Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD? A 1 Merodach-baladan, sending to visit Hezekiah because of the wonder, hath notice of 2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and show-g 4 Then said he, What have they seen in thy 5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. 8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days. 1 The promulgation of the gospel. 3 The preaching of John Baptist. 9 The preach- COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, 2 Speak yeb comfortably to Jerusalem, and 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare'ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: God's mercies to his church. ISAIAH.-CHAP. XLI., XLII. 1 God expostulateth with his people, about his mercies to the church, 10 about his promises, 21 and about the vanity of idols. K q Ps.103.5. r He. 12.1. Mi.4.5. a Zec.2.13. b right cousness. с с.46.11. EEP • silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us d Ezr.1.2. come near together to judgment. 2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. 3 He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. e in peace. f Re. 1.17. 22.13. g strong. h c.40.19. I or, the founder. Jor, the smiting. kor, saying of the solder, It is good. 1 Ps. 135.4. Ja. 2.23. The vanity of idols. fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 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 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former things, what they be, that we may 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 hof nothing, and your 5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of m2Ch.20.7. work of nought: an abomination is he that the earth were afraid, drew near, and came. 6 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be & of good courage. 7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the soldering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my m friend. 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 n ver. 13,14. c.43.5. chooseth you. 25 I have raised up one from the north, and • De.31.6,8. he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall p c.40.29. qc. 45 24. Zec. 12.3. r the men of thy strife. s the men of thy contention t the men of thy war. u De.33.26 ..29. v or, few men. w mouths. x Mi.4.13. y Mat.3.12. Ro.5.11. a c.45.25. b. Ps. 105.41. c Ps.107.35. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they d c.55.13. shall be as nothing; and they 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. e cause to come near. fJn. 13.19. g set our heart upon. hor, worse than nothing. i or, worse than of a viper. he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay. 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 declar eth, 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 I 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. 29 Behold, they are all vanity, their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion. EHOLD my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soulb delighteth; 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 dquench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: 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; he that giveth breath unto the peo ple upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein. 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteous 16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall a quench it. ness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep ISAIAH. CHAP. XLIII. Christ's mission to the Gentiles. Α. Μ. 3292. S, B. C. 712 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. m 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. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities 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 of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. God comforteth the church. of Israel, thy Saviour: Igave 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. 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 u Ho.2.14. earth; 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 a Ps. 97.7. b c.6.10. devour at once. c Jn.9.39. Re.3.17, 18. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former 15 I will make waste mountains and hills, a P.71.16, things? let them bring forth their witnesses, 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 w that for, him. 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. e Mat.5.17. Jn. 17.1. g c.18.2. 10 Ye kare 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 m there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 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. 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. 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 a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? 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. hor, en snaring all the young men of them. i treading. I aftertime. k Ju.2.14. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, Ne.9.26, saith the LORD, that I am God. 27. UT • 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. 2 When thou passest through the waters, wlambs, or, 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 kida. x Mat. 11.30 y made me drunk, or, abundantly 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. 20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the towls: 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. small cat 23 Thou hast not brought me the tle 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. 24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat moistened. of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to God's promises to the church. ISAIAH.-CHAP. XLIV., XLV. Isaiah exhorts to praise God. Israel, whom I have chosen : Α. Μ. 3292. z Mal.2.17. a Je.50.20. Ac.3.19. b Eze.36.22, 32. c Je.31.34. d Ro.8.33. e interpre ters. Mal.2.7,8 for, holy princes. a Pa. 46.5. He. 4.16. b De.32.15. c Ro.8.30. Ep. 1.4. d Jn.7.38. e c.59.21. g Je.50.5. 2 Co.8.5. 2 Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help A0241. thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is h c.43.14. 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. 8 Fear 1 ye not, neither be afraid: have not c.45.20. I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even mym witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no ■ God; I know not any. 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 De ashamed. 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. 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 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. x daubed. y setteth to. z Ho.7.2. a that which comes of. Ro.1.21. he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he ma keth 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. 19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? 20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart bhath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? 21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. 22 I have blotted d out, as a thick cloud, thy 24 Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; 25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; 26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his mesP.103.12. sengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: The omnipotence of God. ISAIAH.-CHAP. XLVI., XLVII. 4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. В. С. 712. e De. 4.35, 22 39. 14,18, 5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, g Pa 18.32, h c.37.20. Mal.1.11. J Ps.29.11. 6 That they may know from the rising of 1 Ge.1.3,4. the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it. 9 Wo unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Wo unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth ? 11 Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts. k Am.3.6. 1 Ps.35.11. m Ps. 72.3. n Je. 18.6. o Je.31.1. p Jn.16.23. Idols not comparable to God. there is no God else beside me; a just & God 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, 1 shall one say, in the Lord have I TM righteousness and strength: even to him Pshall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be P.102.25. justified, and shall glory. He. 11.3. ror, make 2Ch.36.22. tc.52.3. u Ps.63.31. 72.10,11. c. 49.25. 60.9..16. idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. 2 They stoop, they bow down together; they Zec.8.22, could not deliver the burden, but themselves ▼ Ps.149.8. w1 Co.14. 25. x P. 44.24. y Ps. 97.7. z Ro.2.28, a Je. 31.3. b Pa.25.2,3 c 1 Pe.2.6. d De.29.29. f Ep.2.12. g Ro.3.26. h Ps.22.27. i Ge. 22. 16. He. 6.13. JPh.2.10. k De.6.13. 14 Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over " unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come 1 or, he after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely * God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God. 15 Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. 17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. shall say are gone into captivity. 3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: 4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. 5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? 6 They & lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hirè a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. 7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble. 8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, strength and there is none like me, 18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth b Je 48.1, and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. 19 I have not spoken in d secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD Speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of thenations: they have no knowledge wledge that set up 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not * tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for 1 Israel my glory. 1 Ps.14.7. 21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declar a Ps. 18.27. 3 Thy nakedness shall be buncovered, yea, and I will not meet thee as a man. ed this from ancient time? who hath told it be 13.22, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance |