Isaiah 44

Israel Chosen and Idols Exposed

1“But now listen, Jacob my servant,
Israel whom I have chosen. 2The LORD, who made you and formed you from the womb,
who will help you, says:
Do not fear, Jacob my servant,
Jeshurun whom I have chosen. 3I will pour water on thirsty ground,
streams on dry land.
I will pour my Spirit on your offspring,
my blessing on your descendants. 4They will sprout among the grass,
like willows beside flowing water.

5One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’;
another will call himself by Jacob’s name.
Another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’
and take the name Israel. 6The LORD, Israel’s King and Redeemer,
the LORD of hosts, says:
I am first and I am last;
apart from me there is no God. 7Who is like me? Let him call out,
declare it and set it before me,
since I established the ancient people.
Let them declare what is coming and what will happen. 8Do not be frightened or afraid.
Have I not long ago made you hear and told you?
You are my witnesses.
Is there any God besides me?
There is no other Rock; I know of none.”

9All who form idols are emptiness; their treasured objects bring no benefit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, and so they are put to shame. 10Who would form a god or cast an idol that brings no benefit? 11Look, all its companions will be ashamed; its craftsmen are only human. Let them all gather and stand forward: they will tremble and be ashamed together. 12The smith works with a cutting tool over the coals, shaping it with hammers and working it with his strong arm. But he grows hungry and loses strength; without water to drink he becomes faint.

13The woodworker stretches a line, marks the shape with a stylus, works it with planes, and outlines it with a compass. He makes it in a man’s shape, with human beauty, to live in a house. 14He cuts cedars, takes a holm oak or an oak, and lets it grow strong among the forest’s trees. He plants a pine, and the rain makes it grow. 15It becomes fuel for someone. He takes some and warms himself; he lights a fire and bakes bread. He also makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows before it. 16Half he burns in the fire. Over that half he cooks meat, roasts it and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I can see the fire!”

17With the rest he makes a god, his idol. He bows and worships it, prays to it and says, “Rescue me, for you are my god!” 18They do not know or understand, for their eyes are smeared shut so they cannot see, and their hearts so they cannot discern. 19No one takes it to heart or has the knowledge and understanding to say, “Half I burned in the fire; I baked bread on its coals, roasted meat and ate it. Shall I make the rest an abomination? Shall I bow before a block of wood?” 20He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has led him astray; he cannot rescue himself or say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

21“Remember these things, Jacob,
Israel, for you are my servant.
I formed you; you are my servant.
Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. 22I have wiped away your rebellions like a thick cloud,
your sins like a cloud.
Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” 23Sing, heavens, for the LORD has acted!
Shout, depths of the earth!
Burst into song, mountains, forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob
and displays his glory in Israel. 24The LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb, says:
“I am the LORD, maker of everything,
stretching out the heavens alone,
spreading the earth by myself,

25frustrating liars’ signs and making fools of diviners,
turning the wise back
and making their knowledge foolish, 26confirming my servant’s word
and fulfilling my messengers’ counsel;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’
and of Judah’s cities, ‘They will be rebuilt;
I will raise her ruins,’ 27saying to the deep, ‘Dry up!
I will dry your rivers,’ 28saying of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd!
He will fulfill all my purpose,’
and saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”