Shared Word Translation
Isaiah 43
But now, this is what LORD says, he who created you, Jacob, who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flame will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not withhold!' Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth— everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." Lead out those who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf. All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Which of them declared this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, and let them hear and say, 'It is true.' "You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days, I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?" This is what LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians, in the ships in which they take pride. I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King." This is what LORD says—he who makes a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the warrior together, they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my chosen people, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Yet you have not called upon me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel. You 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 incense. You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, nor lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence. Your first father sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me. So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple; I consigned Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn."