43:1 Now, this is what the
the one who created you, O Jacob,
and formed you, O Israel:
"Don't be afraid, for I will protect you.
I call you by name, you are mine.
when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not harm you.
the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer.
I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price,
Ethiopia and Seba in place of you.
and I love you,
I will hand over people in place of you,
nations in place of your life.
From the east I will bring your descendants;
from the west I will gather you.
and to the south, 'Don't hold any back!'
Bring my sons from distant lands,
and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed - yes, whom I made!
those who are deaf, even though they have ears!
the peoples assemble.
Who among them announced this?
Who predicted earlier events for us?
Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right;
let them listen and affirm, 'It is true.'
"my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may consider and believe in me,
and understand that I am he.
No god was formed before me,
and none will outlive me.
and there is no deliverer besides me.
and there was no other god among you.
You are my witnesses," says the
no one can deliver from my power;
I will act, and who can prevent it?"
your protector, the Holy One of Israel:
"For your sake I send to Babylon
and make them all fugitives,
turning the Babylonians' joyful shouts into mourning songs.
the one who created Israel, your king."
the one who made a road through the sea,
a pathway through the surging waters,
together with a mighty army.
They fell down, never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
don't recall these former events.
Now it begins to happen! Do you not recognize it?
Yes, I will make a road in the desert
and paths in the wilderness.
the jackals and ostriches,
because I put water in the desert
and streams in the wilderness,
to quench the thirst of my chosen people,
so they might praise me."
you did not long for me, O Israel.
you did not honor me with your sacrifices.
I did not burden you with offerings;
I did not make you weary by demanding incense.
you did not present to me the fat of your sacrifices.
Yet you burdened me with your sins;
you made me weary with your evil deeds.
your sins I do not remember.
You, prove to me that you are right!
your spokesmen rebelled against me.
and handed Jacob over to destruction,
and subjected Israel to humiliating abuse."
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® copyright © 1996, 2019, used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.