Isaiah:41-44

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* Keep silence before me , O islands ; and let the people renew their strength : let them come near ; then let them speak : let us come near together to judgment . * Who raised up the righteous man from the east , called him to his foot , gave the nations before him , and made him rule over kings ? he gave them as the dust to his sword , and as driven stubble to his bow . * He pursued them , and passed safely ; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet . * Who hath wrought and done it , calling the generations from the beginning ? I the LORD , the first , and with the last ; I am he . * The isles saw it , and feared ; the ends of the earth were afraid , drew near , and came . * They helped every one his neighbour ; and every one said to his brother , Be of good courage . * So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith , and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil , saying , It is ready for the sodering : and he fastened it with nails , that it should not be moved . * But thou , Israel , art my servant , Jacob whom I have chosen , the seed of Abraham my friend . * Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth , and called thee from the chief men thereof , and said unto thee , Thou art my servant ; I have chosen thee , and not cast thee away . * Fear thou not ; for I am with thee : be not dismayed ; for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee ; yea , I will help thee ; yea , I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness . * Behold , all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded : they shall be as nothing ; and they that strive with thee shall perish . * Thou shalt seek them , and shalt not find them , even them that contended with thee : they that war against thee shall be as nothing , and as a thing of nought . * For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand , saying unto thee , Fear not ; I will help thee . * Fear not , thou worm Jacob , and ye men of Israel ; I will help thee , saith the LORD , and thy redeemer , the Holy One of Israel . * Behold , I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth : thou shalt thresh the mountains , and beat them small , and shalt make the hills as chaff . * Thou shalt fan them , and the wind shall carry them away , and the whirlwind shall scatter them : and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD , and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel . * When the poor and needy seek water , and there is none , and their tongue faileth for thirst , I the LORD will hear them , I the God of Israel will not forsake them . * I will open rivers in high places , and fountains in the midst of the valleys : I will make the wilderness a pool of water , and the dry land springs of water . * I will plant in the wilderness the cedar , the shittah tree , and the myrtle , and the oil tree ; I will set in the desert the fir tree , and the pine , and the box tree together : * That they may see , and know , and consider , and understand together , that the hand of the LORD hath done this , and the Holy One of Israel hath created it . * Produce your cause , saith the LORD ; bring forth your strong reasons , saith the King of Jacob . * Let them bring them forth , and shew us what shall happen : let them shew the former things , what they be , that we may consider them , and know the latter end of them ; or declare us things for to come . * Shew the things that are to come hereafter , that we may know that ye are gods : yea , do good , or do evil , that we may be dismayed , and behold it together . * Behold , ye are of nothing , and your work of nought : an abomination is he that chooseth you . * I have raised up one from the north , and he shall come : from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name : and he shall come upon princes as upon morter , and as the potter treadeth clay . * Who hath declared from the beginning , that we may know ? and beforetime , that we may say , He is righteous ? yea , there is none that sheweth , yea , there is none that declareth , yea , there is none that heareth your words . * The first shall say to Zion , Behold , behold them : and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings . * For I beheld , and there was no man ; even among them , and there was no counsellor , that , when I asked of them , could answer a word . * Behold , they are all vanity ; their works are nothing : their molten images are wind and confusion . * Behold my servant , whom I uphold ; mine elect , in whom my soul delighteth ; I have put my spirit upon him : he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles . * He shall not cry , nor lift up , nor cause his voice to be heard in the street . * A bruised reed shall he not break , and the smoking flax shall he not quench : he shall bring forth judgment unto truth . * He shall not fail nor be discouraged , till he have set judgment in the earth : and the isles shall wait for his law . * Thus saith God the LORD , he that created the heavens , and stretched them out ; he that spread forth the earth , and that which cometh out of it ; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it , and spirit to them that walk therein : * I the LORD have called thee in righteousness , and will hold thine hand , and will keep thee , and give thee for a covenant of the people , for a light of the Gentiles ; * To open the blind eyes , to bring out the prisoners from the prison , and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house . * I am the LORD : that is my name : and my glory will I not give to another , neither my praise to graven images . * Behold , the former things are come to pass , and new things do I declare : before they spring forth I tell you of them . * Sing unto the LORD a new song , and his praise from the end of the earth , ye that go down to the sea , and all that is therein ; the isles , and the inhabitants thereof . * Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice , the villages that Kedar doth inhabit : let the inhabitants of the rock sing , let them shout from the top of the mountains . * Let them give glory unto the LORD , and declare his praise in the islands . * The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man , he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war : he shall cry , yea , roar ; he shall prevail against his enemies . * I have long time holden my peace ; I have been still , and refrained myself : now will I cry like a travailing woman ; I will destroy and devour at once . * I will make waste mountains and hills , and dry up all their herbs ; and I will make the rivers islands , and I will dry up the pools . * And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths that they have not known : I will make darkness light before them , and crooked things straight . These things will I do unto them , and not forsake them . * They shall be turned back , they shall be greatly ashamed , that trust in graven images , that say to the molten images , Ye are our gods . * Hear , ye deaf ; and look , ye blind , that ye may see . * Who is blind , but my servant ? or deaf , as my messenger that I sent ? who is blind as he that is perfect , and blind as the LORD 'S servant ? * Seeing many things , but thou observest not ; opening the ears , but he heareth not . * The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness ' sake ; he will magnify the law , and make it honourable . * But this is a people robbed and spoiled ; they are all of them snared in holes , and they are hid in prison houses : they are for a prey , and none delivereth ; for a spoil , and none saith , Restore . * Who among you will give ear to this ? who will hearken and hear for the time to come ? * Who gave Jacob for a spoil , and Israel to the robbers ? did not the LORD , he against whom we have sinned ? for they would not walk in his ways , neither were they obedient unto his law . * Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger , and the strength of battle : and it hath set him on fire round about , yet he knew not ; and it burned him , yet he laid it not to heart . * But now thus saith the LORD that created thee , O Jacob , and he that formed thee , O Israel , Fear not : for I have redeemed thee , I have called thee by thy name ; thou art mine . * When thou passest through the waters , I will be with thee ; and through the rivers , they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire , thou shalt not be burned ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee . * For I am the LORD thy God , the Holy One of Israel , thy Saviour : I gave Egypt for thy ransom , Ethiopia and Seba for thee . * Since thou wast precious in my sight , thou hast been honourable , and I have loved thee : therefore will I give men for thee , and people for thy life . * Fear not : for I am with thee : I will bring thy seed from the east , and gather thee from the west ; * I will say to the north , Give up ; and to the south , Keep not back : bring my sons from far , and my daughters from the ends of the earth ; * Even every one that is called by my name : for I have created him for my glory , I have formed him ; yea , I have made him . * Bring forth the blind people that have eyes , and the deaf that have ears . * Let all the nations be gathered together , and let the people be assembled : who among them can declare this , and shew us former things ? let them bring forth their witnesses , that they may be justified : or let them hear , and say , It is truth . * Ye are my witnesses , saith the LORD , and my servant whom I have chosen : that ye may know and believe me , and understand that I am he : before me there was no God formed , neither shall there be after me . * I , even I , am the LORD ; and beside me there is no saviour . * I have declared , and have saved , and I have shewed , when there was no strange god among you : therefore ye are my witnesses , saith the LORD , that I am God . * Yea , before the day was I am he ; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand : I will work , and who shall let it ? * Thus saith the LORD , your redeemer , the Holy One of Israel ; For your sake I have sent to Babylon , and have brought down all their nobles , and the Chaldeans , whose cry is in the ships . * I am the LORD , your Holy One , the creator of Israel , your King . * Thus saith the LORD , which maketh a way in the sea , and a path in the mighty waters ; * Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse , the army and the power ; they shall lie down together , they shall not rise : they are extinct , they are quenched as tow . * Remember ye not the former things , neither consider the things of old . * Behold , I will do a new thing ; now it shall spring forth ; shall ye not know it ? I will even make a way in the wilderness , and rivers in the desert . * The beast of the field shall honour me , the dragons and the owls : because I give waters in the wilderness , and rivers in the desert , to give drink to my people , my chosen . * This people have I formed for myself ; they shall shew forth my praise . * But thou hast not called upon me , O Jacob ; but thou hast been weary of me , O Israel . * Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings ; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices . I have not caused thee to serve with an offering , nor wearied thee with incense . * Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money , neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices : but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins , thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities . * I , even I , am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake , and will not remember thy sins . * Put me in remembrance : let us plead together : declare thou , that thou mayest be justified . * Thy first father hath sinned , and thy teachers have transgressed against me . * Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary , and have given Jacob to the curse , and Israel to reproaches . * Yet now hear , O Jacob my servant ; and Israel , 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 , 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 LORD 'S ; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob ; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD , and surname himself by the name of Israel . * Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel , and his redeemer the LORD of hosts ; I am the first , 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 : have not I told thee from that time , and have declared it ? ye are even my witnesses . Is there a God beside me ? yea , there 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 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 , and his strength faileth : he drinketh no water , and is faint . * The carpenter stretcheth out his rule ; he marketh it out with a line ; he fitteth it with planes , 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 : 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 ? 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 ; for thou art my servant : I have formed thee ; thou art my servant : O Israel , thou shalt not be forgotten of me . * I have blotted out , as a thick cloud , thy transgressions , and , as a cloud , thy sins : 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 , and every tree therein : for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob , and glorified himself in Israel . * 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 ; 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 ;

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