Isaiah 44
1Yet sh'ma ·hear obey· now, Jacob [Supplanter] my servant, 2 and Israel [God prevails], whom I have chosen. 1
2This is what Adonai who made you, 2 and formed you from the womb, 2 who will help you says: 1 “Don’t be afraid, Jacob [Supplanter] my servant; 2 and you, Jeshurun [Upright one], whom I have chosen. 1
3For I will pour water + 44:3. Quoted in John 7:38 on him who is thirsty, 2 and streams on the dry ground. 1 I will pour my Ruach ·Spirit, Breath· + 44:3. Quoted in John 7:39 on your descendants, 2 and my blessing on your offspring: 1
4and they will spring up among the grass, 2 as willows by the watercourses. 1
5One will say, ‘I am Adonai’s;’ 2 and another will be called by the name of Jacob [Supplanter]; 2 and another will write with his hand ‘to Adonai,’ 2 and honor the name of Israel [God prevails].” 1
6This is what Adonai, the King of Israel [God prevails], 2 and his Redeemer, Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies], says: 1 “I am the first א (Aleph) Α (Alpha), and I am the last ת (Tav) Ω (Omega); + 44:6. Quoted in Rev 1:8, 1:17, 21:6, 22:13 2 and besides me there are no elohim ·gods, judges·. 1
7Who is like me? 2 Who will call, 2 and will declare it, 2 and set it in order for me, 2 since I established the ancient people? 1 Let them declare the things that are coming, 2 and that will happen. 1
8Don’t fear, 2 neither be afraid. 1 Haven’t I sh'ma ·heard obeyed, declared· it to you long ago, 2 and shown it? 1 You are my witnesses. 2 Is there a God besides me? 1 Indeed, there is not. 2 I don’t know any other Rock.” 1
9Everyone who makes an engraved image is vain. 2 The things that they delight in will not profit. 2 Their own witnesses don’t see, nor know, that they may be disappointed. 1
10Who has fashioned a deity, 2 or molds an image that is profitable for nothing? 1
11Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed; 2 and the workmen are mere men. 1 Let them all be gathered together. 2 Let them stand up. 2 They will fear. 2 They will be put to shame together. 1
12The blacksmith takes an ax, 2 works in the coals, 2 fashions it with hammers, 2 and works it with his strong arm. 1 He is hungry, 2 and his strength fails; 1 he drinks no water, 2 and is faint. 1
13The carpenter stretches out a line. 2 He marks it out with a pencil. 2 He shapes it with planes. 2 He marks it out with compasses, 2 and shapes it like the figure of a man, 2 with the beauty of a man, 2 to reside in a house. 1
14He cuts down cedars for himself, 2 and takes the cypress and the oak, 2 and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. 1 He plants a cypress tree, 2 and the rain nourishes it. 1
15Then it will be for a man to burn; 2 and he takes some of it, and warms himself. 2 Yes, he burns it, and bakes bread. 1 Yes, he makes a deity, and worships it; 2 he makes it an engraved image, and falls down to it. 1
16He burns part of it in the fire. 2 With part of it, he eats meat. 2 He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. 1 Yes, he warms himself, 2 and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.” 1
17The rest of it he makes into a deity, 2 even his engraved image. 1 He bows down to it and worships, 2 and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me; for you are my deity!” 1
18They don’t know, neither do they consider: 2 for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see; 2 and their hearts, that they can’t understand. 1
19No one thinks, 2 neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, 2 “I have burned part of it in the fire. 2 Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. 2 I have roasted meat and eaten it. 2 Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? 2 Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?” 1
20He feeds on ashes. 2 A deceived heart has turned him aside; 2 and he can’t deliver his soul, 2 nor say, “Is not there a lie in my right hand?” 1
21Remember these things, Jacob [Supplanter] and Israel [God prevails]; 2 for you are my servant. 2 I have formed you. 2 You are my servant. 2 Israel [God prevails], you will not be forgotten by me. 1
22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your rebellious breaches of relationships, 2 and, as a cloud, your habitual sins ·missing the marks·. 2 Teshuvah ·Completely return· to me, for I have redeemed you. 1
23Sing, you heavens, for Adonai has done it! 2 Shout, you lower parts of the earth! 2 Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, 2 for Adonai has redeemed Jacob [Supplanter], 2 and will glorify himself in Israel [God prevails]. 1
24Adonai, your Redeemer, 2 and he who formed you from the womb says: 1 “I am Adonai, who makes all things; 2 who alone stretches out the heavens; 2 who spreads out the earth by myself; 1
25who frustrates the signs of the liars, 2 and makes diviners mad; 1 who turns wise men backward, 2 and makes their knowledge foolish; + 44:25. Quoted in 1 Cor 1:20 1
26who confirms the word of his servant, 2 and performs the counsel of his messengers; 1 who says of Jerusalem [City of peace], ‘She will be inhabited;’ 2 and of the cities of Judah [Praised], ‘They will be built,’ 2 and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’ 1
27who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ 2 and ‘I will dry up your rivers;’ 1
28Who says of Cyrus [Sun], ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ 2 even saying of Jerusalem [City of peace], ‘She will be built;’ 2 and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”