Isaiah 44

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW JERUSALEM
1 And now listen, Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.	1 And now listen, Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.
2 Thus says Yahweh who made you, who formed you in the womb; he will help you. Do not be afraid,Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.	2 Thus says Yahweh who made you, who formed you in the womb; he will help you. Do not be afraid,Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
3 For I shal pour out water on the thirsty soil and streams on the dry ground. I shal pour out my spirit onyour descendants, my blessing on your offspring,	3 For I shal pour out water on the thirsty soil and streams on the dry ground. I shal pour out my spirit onyour descendants, my blessing on your offspring,
4 and they wil spring up among the grass, like wil ows on the banks of a stream.	4 and they wil spring up among the grass, like wil ows on the banks of a stream.
5 One person wil say, 'I belong to Yahweh,' another wil cal himself by Jacob's name. On his handanother wil write 'Yahweh's' and be surnamed 'Israel'.	5 One person wil say, 'I belong to Yahweh,' another wil cal himself by Jacob's name. On his handanother wil write 'Yahweh's' and be surnamed 'Israel'.
6 Thus says Yahweh, Israel's king, Yahweh Sabaoth, his redeemer: I am the first and I am the last; thereis no God except me.	6 Thus says Yahweh, Israel's king, Yahweh Sabaoth, his redeemer: I am the first and I am the last; thereis no God except me.
7 Who is like me? Let him cal out, let him affirm it and convince me it is so; let him say what has beenhappening since I instituted an eternal people, and predict to them what will happen next!	7 Who is like me? Let him cal out, let him affirm it and convince me it is so; let him say what has beenhappening since I instituted an eternal people, and predict to them what will happen next!
8 Have no fear, do not be afraid: have I not told you and revealed it long ago? You are my witnesses. Isthere any God except me? There is no Rock; I know of none.	8 Have no fear, do not be afraid: have I not told you and revealed it long ago? You are my witnesses. Isthere any God except me? There is no Rock; I know of none.
9 The makers of idols are all nothingness; the works they delight in serve no purpose. And these are thewitness against them: they see nothing, they know nothing; and so they wil be put to shame.	9 The makers of idols are all nothingness; the works they delight in serve no purpose. And these are thewitness against them: they see nothing, they know nothing; and so they wil be put to shame.
10 Who ever fashioned a god or cast an image without hope of gain?	10 Who ever fashioned a god or cast an image without hope of gain?
11 Watch how al its devotees wil be put to shame, and the men who made it too, who are only human.Let them al assemble, let them stand forward and feel both fear and shame!	11 Watch how al its devotees wil be put to shame, and the men who made it too, who are only human.Let them al assemble, let them stand forward and feel both fear and shame!
12 The blacksmith makes an axe over the charcoal, beats it into shape with a hammer, works on it withhis strong arm. Then he feels hungry and his strength deserts him; having drunk no water, he is exhausted.	12 The blacksmith makes an axe over the charcoal, beats it into shape with a hammer, works on it withhis strong arm. Then he feels hungry and his strength deserts him; having drunk no water, he is exhausted.
13 The wood carver takes his measurements, outlines the image with chalk, executes it with the chisel,fol owing the outline with a compass. He makes it look like a human being, with human standards of beauty, sothat it can reside in a house.	13 The wood carver takes his measurements, outlines the image with chalk, executes it with the chisel,fol owing the outline with a compass. He makes it look like a human being, with human standards of beauty, sothat it can reside in a house.
14 He has cut down cedars, has selected an oak and a terebinth which he has grown for himself amongthe trees in the forest and has planted a pine tree which the rain has nourished.	14 He has cut down cedars, has selected an oak and a terebinth which he has grown for himself amongthe trees in the forest and has planted a pine tree which the rain has nourished.
15 Once it is suitable to burn, he takes some of it to warm himself; having kindled it, he bakes bread. Buthe also makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol from it and bows down before it.	15 Once it is suitable to burn, he takes some of it to warm himself; having kindled it, he bakes bread. Buthe also makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol from it and bows down before it.
16 Half of it he burns on the fire, over this half he roasts meat, eats it and is replete; at the same time hewarms himself and says, 'Ah, how warm I am, watching the flames!'	16 Half of it he burns on the fire, over this half he roasts meat, eats it and is replete; at the same time hewarms himself and says, 'Ah, how warm I am, watching the flames!'
17 With the remainder he makes a god, his idol, bows down before it, worships it and prays to it. 'Save me,' he says, 'for you are my god.'	17 With the remainder he makes a god, his idol, bows down before it, worships it and prays to it. 'Save me,' he says, 'for you are my god.'
18 They know nothing, they understand nothing, since their eyes are incapable of seeing and their heartsof reflecting.	18 They know nothing, they understand nothing, since their eyes are incapable of seeing and their heartsof reflecting.
19 Not one of them looks into his heart, not one of them has the knowledge and wit to think, 'I burned halfof it on the fire and cooked food over the embers. Am I right to make something disgusting out of what is left?Am I right to bow down before a block of wood?'	19 Not one of them looks into his heart, not one of them has the knowledge and wit to think, 'I burned halfof it on the fire and cooked food over the embers. Am I right to make something disgusting out of what is left?Am I right to bow down before a block of wood?'
20 He hankers after ashes, his deluded heart has led him astray; he wil not save himself, he will notthink, 'What I have in my hand is nothing but a lie!'	20 He hankers after ashes, his deluded heart has led him astray; he wil not save himself, he will notthink, 'What I have in my hand is nothing but a lie!'
21 Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, since you are my servant. I formed you, you are myservant; Israel, I shall not forget you.	21 Remember these things, Jacob, and Israel, since you are my servant. I formed you, you are myservant; Israel, I shall not forget you.
22 I have dispel ed your acts of revolt like a cloud and your sins like a mist. Come back to me, for I haveredeemed you.	22 I have dispel ed your acts of revolt like a cloud and your sins like a mist. Come back to me, for I haveredeemed you.
23 Heavens, shout for joy, for Yahweh has acted! Underworld, shout aloud! Shout for joy, you mountains,forests and al your trees! For Yahweh has redeemed Jacob and displayed his glory in Israel.	23 Heavens, shout for joy, for Yahweh has acted! Underworld, shout aloud! Shout for joy, you mountains,forests and al your trees! For Yahweh has redeemed Jacob and displayed his glory in Israel.
24 Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer, he who formed you in the womb: I, Yahweh, have made althings, I alone spread out the heavens. When I hammered the earth into shape, who was with me?	24 Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer, he who formed you in the womb: I, Yahweh, have made althings, I alone spread out the heavens. When I hammered the earth into shape, who was with me?
25 I, who foil the omens of soothsayers and make fools of diviners, who confound sages turning theirknowledge into folly,	25 I, who foil the omens of soothsayers and make fools of diviners, who confound sages turning theirknowledge into folly,
26 who confirm the word of my servant and make the plans of my envoys succeed; who say toJerusalem, 'You wil be inhabited,' and to the towns of Judah, 'You wil be rebuilt and I shall restore the ruins ofJerusalem';	26 who confirm the word of my servant and make the plans of my envoys succeed; who say toJerusalem, 'You wil be inhabited,' and to the towns of Judah, 'You wil be rebuilt and I shall restore the ruins ofJerusalem';
27 who say to the ocean, 'Dry up! I shal make your rivers run dry';	27 who say to the ocean, 'Dry up! I shal make your rivers run dry';
28 who say to Cyrus, 'My shepherd.' He wil perform my entire wil by saying to Jerusalem, 'You wil berebuilt,' and to the Temple, 'You wil be refounded.'	28 who say to Cyrus, 'My shepherd.' He wil perform my entire wil by saying to Jerusalem, 'You wil berebuilt,' and to the Temple, 'You wil be refounded.'