Isaiah:44-48

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Yet now hear , O Jacob my servant ; and Israel Yisra #el #, whom I have chosen : * Thus saith the LORD that made thee , and formed thee from the womb , which will help thee ; Fear not , O Jacob Ya #aqob #, my servant ; and thou , Jesurun , whom I have chosen . * For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty , and floods upon the dry ground : I will pour my spirit upon thy seed , and my blessing upon thine offspring : * And they shall spring up as among the grass , as willows by the water courses . * One shall say , I am the LORDS ; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob Ya #aqob #; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD , and surname himself by the name of Israel Yisra #el #. * Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel Yisra #el #, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts ; I am the first ri #shown #, and I am the last ; and beside me there is no God . * And who , as I , shall call , and shall 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 shew unto them . * Fear ye not , neither be afraid (8676 ): have not I told thee from that time , and have declared it ? ye are even my witnesses . Is there a God beside me ? yea , here is no God ; I know not any . * They that make a graven image are all of them vanity ; and their delectable things shall not profit ; and they are their own witnesses ; they see not , nor know ; that they may be ashamed . * Who hath formed a god , or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing ? * Behold , all his fellows shall be ashamed : and the workmen , they are of men : let them all be gathered together , let them stand up ; yet they shall fear , and they shall be ashamed together . * The smith barzel # with the tongs both worketh in the coals , and fashioneth it with hammers , and worketh it with the strength of his arms : yea , he is hungry ra #eb #, and his strength faileth : he drinketh no water , and is faint . * The carpenter charash # stretcheth out his rule ; he marketh it out with a line ; he fitteth it with planes maqtsu #ah #, and he marketh it out with the compass , and maketh it after the figure of a man , according to the beauty of a man ; that it may remain in the house . * He heweth him down cedars , and taketh the cypress and the oak , which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest ya #ar #: he planteth an ash , and the rain doth nourish it . * Then shall it be for a man to burn : for he will take thereof , and warm himself ; yea , he kindleth it , and baketh bread ; yea , he maketh a god , and worshippeth it ; he maketh it a graven image , and falleth down thereto . * He burneth part thereof in the fire ; with part thereof he eateth flesh ; he roasteth roast , and is satisfied : yea , he warmeth himself , and saith , Aha , I am warm , I have seen the fire : * And the residue thereof he maketh a god , even his graven image : he falleth down unto it , and worshippeth it , and prayeth unto it , and saith , Deliver me ; for thou art my god . * They have not known nor understood : for he hath shut their eyes , that they cannot see ; and their hearts , that they cannot understand . * And none considereth in his heart , neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say , I have burned part of it in the fire ; yea , also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof ; I have roasted flesh , and eaten it : and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination tow #ebah #? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree ? * He feedeth on ashes : a deceived heart hath turned him aside , that he cannot deliver his soul , nor say , Is there not a lie in my right hand ? * Remember these , O Jacob and Israel Yisra #el #; for thou art my servant : I have formed thee ; thou art my servant : O Israel Yisra #el #, thou shalt not be forgotten of me . * I have blotted out , as a thick cloud , thy transgressions , and , as a cloud , thy sins chatta #ah #: return unto me ; for I have redeemed thee . * Sing , O ye heavens ; for the LORD hath done it : shout , ye lower parts of the earth : break forth into singing , ye mountains , O forest ya #ar #, and every tree therein : for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob Ya #aqob #, and glorified himself in Israel Yisra #el #. * Thus saith the LORD , thy redeemer , and he that formed thee from the womb , I am the LORD that maketh all things ; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone ; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself ; * That frustrateth the tokens of the liars , and maketh diviners mad ; that turneth wise men backward , and maketh their knowledge foolish ; * That confirmeth the word of his servant , and performeth the counsel of his messengers mal #ak #; that saith to Jerusalem , Thou shalt be inhabited ; and to the cities of Judah , Ye shall be built , and I will raise up the decayed places thereof : * That saith to the deep , Be dry , and I will dry up thy rivers : * That saith of Cyrus , He is my shepherd , and shall perform all my pleasure : even saying to Jerusalem , Thou shalt be built ; and to the temple , Thy foundation shall be laid . * Thus saith the LORD to his anointed , to Cyrus , whose right hand I have holden , to subdue nations before him ; and I will loose the loins of kings , to open before him the two leaved gates ; and the gates shall not be shut ; * I will go before thee , and make # the crooked places straight (8675 ): I will break in pieces the gates of brass , and cut in sunder the bars of iron : * And I will give thee the treasures of darkness , and hidden riches of secret places , that thou mayest know that I , the LORD , which call thee by thy name , am the God of Israel Yisra #el #. * For Jacob my servants sake , and Israel mine elect , I have even called thee by thy name : I have surnamed thee , though thou hast not known me . * I am the LORD , and there is none else , there is no God beside me : I girded thee , though thou hast not known me : * That they may know from the rising of the sun , and from the west ma #arab #, that there is none beside me . I am the LORD , and there is none else . * I form the light , and create darkness : I make peace , and create evil : I the LORD do all these things . * Drop down , ye heavens , from above ma #al #, and let the skies pour down righteousness : let the earth open , and let them bring forth salvation , and let righteousness spring up together ; I the LORD have created it . * Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker ! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth . Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it , What makest thou ? or thy work po #al #, He hath no hands ? * Woe unto him that saith unto his father , What begettest thou ? or to the woman , What hast thou brought forth ? * Thus saith the LORD , the Holy One of Israel Yisra #el #, and his Maker , Ask me of things to come concerning my sons , and concerning the work of my hands command ye me . * I have made the earth , and created man upon it : I , even my hands , have stretched out the heavens , and all their host have I commanded . * I have raised him up in righteousness , and I will direct all his ways : he shall build my city , and he shall let go my captives , not for price nor reward , saith the LORD of hosts . * Thus saith the LORD , The labour of Egypt , and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans C @ba #iy #, men of stature , shall come over unto thee , and they shall be thine : they shall come after thee ; in chains they shall come over , and they shall fall down unto thee , they shall make supplication unto thee , saying , Surely God is in thee ; and there is none else , there is no God . * Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself , O God of Israel Yisra #el #, the Saviour . * They shall be ashamed , and also confounded , all of them : they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols . * But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation t @shuw #ah #: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end . * For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens ; God himself that formed the earth and made it ; he hath established it , he created it not in vain , he formed it to be inhabited : I am the LORD ; and there is none else . * I have not spoken in secret , in a dark place of the earth : I said not unto the seed of Jacob Ya #aqob #, Seek ye me in vain : I the LORD speak righteousness , I declare things that are right . * Assemble yourselves and come ; draw near together , ye that are escaped of the nations : they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image , and pray unto a god that cannot save . * Tell ye , and bring them near ; yea , let them take counsel together : who hath declared this from ancient time ? who hath told it from that time ? have not I the LORD ? and there is no God else beside me ; a just God and a Saviour ; there is none beside me . * Look unto me , and be ye saved , all the ends of the earth : for I am God , and there is none else . * I have sworn by myself , the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness , and shall not return , That unto me every knee shall bow , every tongue shall swear . * Surely , shall one say , in the LORD have I righteousness and strength : even to him shall men come ; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed . * In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified , and shall glory . * Bel boweth down , Nebo stoopeth , their idols were upon the beasts , and upon the cattle : your carriages were heavy loaden ; they are a burden to the weary beast . * They stoop , they bow down together ; they could not deliver the burden , but themselves are gone into captivity . * Hearken unto me , O house of Jacob Ya #aqob #, and all the remnant of the house of Israel Yisra #el #, which are borne by me from the belly , which are carried from the womb : * And even to your old age I am he ; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you : I have made , and I will bear ; even I will carry , and will deliver you . * To whom will ye liken me , and make me equal , and compare me , that we may be like ? * They lavish gold out of the bag , and weigh silver in the balance , and hire a goldsmith ; and he maketh it a god : they fall down , yea , they worship . * They bear him upon the shoulder , they carry him , and set him in his place , and he standeth ; from his place shall he not remove : yea , one shall cry unto him , yet can he not answer , nor save him out of his trouble . * Remember this , and shew yourselves men : bring it again to mind , O ye transgressors . * Remember the former things of old : for I am God , and there is none else ; I am God , and there is none like me , * Declaring the end from the beginning re #shiyth #, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done , saying , My counsel shall stand , and I will do all my pleasure : * Calling a ravenous bird from the east , the man that executeth my counsel from a far country : yea , I have spoken it , I will also bring it to pass ; I have purposed it , I will also do it . * Hearken unto me , ye stouthearted #H3820 , that are far from righteousness : * I bring near my righteousness ; it shall not be far off , and my salvation shall not tarry : and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory tiph #arah #. * Come down , and sit in the dust , O virgin daughter of Babylon , sit on the ground : there is no throne , O daughter of the Chaldeans : for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate . * Take the millstones , and grind meal : uncover thy locks , make bare the leg , uncover the thigh , pass over the rivers . * Thy nakedness shall be uncovered , yea , thy shame shall be seen : I will take vengeance , and I will not meet thee as a man . * As for our redeemer , the LORD of hosts is his name , the Holy One of Israel Yisra #el #. * Sit thou silent , and get thee into darkness , O daughter of the Chaldeans : for thou shalt no more be called , The lady of kingdoms . * I was wroth with my people , I have polluted mine inheritance , and given them into thine hand : thou didst shew them no mercy ; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke . * And thou saidst , I shall be a lady for ever : so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart , neither didst remember the latter end of it . * Therefore hear now this , thou that art given to pleasures , that dwellest carelessly , that sayest in thine heart , I am , and none else beside me ; I shall not sit as a widow , neither shall I know the loss of children : * But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day , the loss of children , and widowhood : they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries , and for the great abundance of thine enchantments . * For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness : thou hast said , None seeth me . Thy wisdom and thy knowledge da #ath #, it hath perverted thee ; and thou hast said in thine heart , I am , and none else beside me . * Therefore shall evil come upon thee ; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth : and mischief shall fall upon thee ; thou shalt not be able to put it off : and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly pith #owm #, which thou shalt not know . * Stand now with thine enchantments , and with the multitude of thy sorceries , wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth na #uwr #; if so be thou shalt be able to profit , if so be thou mayest prevail . * Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels . Let now the astrologers , the stargazers chozeh #, the monthly prognosticators , stand up , and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee . * Behold , they shall be as stubble ; the fire shall burn them ; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame : there shall not be a coal to warm at , nor fire to sit before it . * Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured , even thy merchants , from thy youth na #uwr #: they shall wander every one to his quarter ; none shall save thee . * Hear ye this , O house of Jacob Ya #aqob #, which are called by the name of Israel Yisra #el #, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah , which swear by the name of the LORD , and make mention of the God of Israel Yisra #el #, but not in truth , nor in righteousness . * For they call themselves of the holy city , and stay themselves upon the God of Israel Yisra #el #; The LORD of hosts is his name . * I have declared the former things from the beginning ; and they went forth out of my mouth , and I shewed them ; I did them suddenly pith #owm #, and they came to pass . * Because I knew that thou art obstinate , and thy neck is an iron sinew , and thy brow brass ; * I have even from the beginning declared it to thee ; before it came to pass I shewed it thee : lest thou shouldest say , Mine idol hath done them , and my graven image , and my molten image , hath commanded them . * Thou hast heard , see all this ; and will not ye declare it ? I have shewed thee new things from this time , even hidden things , and thou didst not know them . * They are created now , and not from the beginning ; even before the day when thou heardest them not ; lest thou shouldest say , Behold , I knew them . * Yea , thou heardest not ; yea , thou knewest not ; yea , from that time that thine ear was not opened : for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously , and wast called a transgressor from the womb . * For my names sake will I defer mine anger , and for my praise will I refrain for thee , that I cut thee not off . * Behold , I have refined thee , but not with silver ; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction . * For mine own sake , even for mine own sake , will I do it : for how should my name be polluted ? and I will not give my glory unto another . * Hearken unto me , O Jacob and Israel Yisra #el #, my called ; I am he ; I am the first ri #shown #, I also am the last . * Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth , and my right hand hath spanned the heavens : when I call unto them , they stand up together . * All ye , assemble yourselves , and hear ; which among them hath declared these things ? The LORD hath loved him : he will do his pleasure on Babylon , and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans . * I , even I , have spoken ; yea , I have called him : I have brought him , and he shall make his way prosperous . * Come ye near unto me , hear ye this ; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning ro #sh #; from the time that it was , there am I : and now the Lord GOD , and his Spirit , hath sent me . * Thus saith the LORD , thy Redeemer , the Holy One of Israel Yisra #el #; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit , which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go . * O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments ! then had thy peace been as a river , and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea : * Thy seed also had been as the sand , and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof ; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me . * Go ye forth of Babylon , flee ye from the Chaldeans , with a voice of singing declare ye , tell this , utter it even to the end of the earth ; say ye , The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob Ya #aqob #. * And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts : he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them : he clave the rock also , and the waters gushed out . * There is no peace , saith the LORD , unto the wicked . * Listen , O isles , unto me ; and hearken , ye people , from far ; The LORD hath called me from the womb ; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name .

---