Isaiah:44:6-23

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* "Thus says the LORD , the King of Israel , And his Redeemer , the LORD of hosts : "I am the First and I am the Last ; Besides Me there is no God . * And who can proclaim as I do ? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me , Since I appointed the ancient people . And the things that are coming and shall come , Let them show these to them . * Do not fear , nor be afraid ; Have I not told you from that time , and declared it ? You are My witnesses . Is there a God besides Me ? Indeed there is no other Rock ; I know not one ."' * Those who make an image , all of them are useless , And their precious things shall not profit ; They are their own witnesses ; They neither see nor know , that they may be ashamed . * Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing ? * Surely all his companions would be ashamed ; And the workmen , they are mere men . Let them all be gathered together , Let them stand up ; Yet they shall fear , They shall be ashamed together . * The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals , Fashions it with hammers , And works it with the strength of his arms . Even so , he is hungry , and his strength fails ; He drinks no water and is faint . * The craftsman stretches out his rule , He marks one out with chalk ; He fashions it with a plane , He marks it out with the compass , And makes it like the figure of a man , According to the beauty of a man , that it may remain in the house . * He cuts down cedars for himself , And takes the cypress and the oak ; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest . He plants a pine , and the rain nourishes it . * Then it shall be for a man to burn , For he will take some of it and warm himself ; Yes , he kindles it and bakes bread ; Indeed he makes a god and worships it ; He makes it a carved image , and falls down to it . * He burns half of it in the fire ; With this half he eats meat ; He roasts a roast , and is satisfied . He even warms himself and says , "Ah ! I am warm , I have seen the fire ." * And the rest of it he makes into a god , His carved image . He falls down before it and worships it , Prays to it and says , "Deliver me , for you are my god !" * They do not know nor understand ; For He has shut their eyes , so that they cannot see , And their hearts , so that they cannot understand . * And no one considers in his heart , Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say , "I have burned half of it in the fire , Yes , I have also baked bread on its coals ; I have roasted meat and eaten it ; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination ? Shall I fall down before a block of wood ?" * He feeds on ashes ; A deceived heart has turned him aside ; And he cannot deliver his soul , Nor say , "Is there not a lie in my right hand ?" * "Remember these , O Jacob , And Israel , for you are My servant ; I have formed you , you are My servant ; O Israel , you will not be forgotten by Me ! * I have blotted out , like a thick cloud , your transgressions , And like a cloud , your sins . Return to Me , for I have redeemed you ." * Sing , O heavens , for the LORD has done it ! Shout , you lower parts of the earth ; Break forth into singing , you mountains , O forest , and every tree in it ! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob , And glorified Himself in Israel .

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