Bible, King James Version
Isaiah
Isa.44
[1] Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I
have chosen:
[2] 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.
[3] 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:
[4] And they shall spring up as among the grass, as
willows by the water courses.
[5] 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.
[6] 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.
[7] 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.
[8] 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.
[9] 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.
[10] Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that
is profitable for nothing?
[11] 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.
[12] 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.
[13] 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.
[14] 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.
[15] 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.
[16] 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:
[17] 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.
[18] They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut
their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they
cannot understand.
[19] 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?
[20] 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?
[21] 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.
[22] I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy
transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I
have redeemed thee.
[23] 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.
[24] 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;
[25] That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh
diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their
knowledge foolish;
[26] 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:
[27] That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy
rivers:
[28] 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.
|