CHAPTER 48
1Hear this, house of Jacob,
who are called by the name of Israel
and came out from Judah’s womb,
and who invoke the God of Israel
neither in truth nor in righteousness.
2For from the holy city they have been called
and on Israel’s God they have leaned—
the LORD of Armies is His name.
3The first things of old have I told,
from My mouth they issued, I announced them,
of a sudden I did it and they came about.
4For I knew that you were hard,
and your neck was iron sinews
and your forehead brazen.
5And I told you of old,
before it came, I announced it to you,
lest you should say, “My idol did these.
My carved and molten images ordained them.”
6You have heard—behold it all,
and you, will you not tell?
I announced to you new things from hence
and hidden things you did not know.
7Now are they created and not long ago,
before this day, and you have not heard.
Thus you say, “Why, I did not know them.”
8You have never heard, you have never known,
of old, your ear was never open.
For I knew you would surely betray,
and from the womb you were called a rebel.
9For My name’s sake I will hold back My wrath
and for My glory I will be restrained toward you
so as not to cut you off.
10Look, I have refined you but not as silver,
I have purged you in the forge of affliction.
11For My sake, for My sake, I do it,
And My glory I will not give to another.
12Listen to Me, O Jacob,
and Israel, whom I have called.
I am He, I am the first,
and I am the last as well.
13Indeed, My hand founded the earth,
and My right hand spread out the heavens
I summon them,
they stand together.
14Gather, all of you, and listen!
Who among you has told these things?
The LORD loves him, shall do his desire.
against Babylonia, and his arm against the Chaldeans.
15I, I have spoken, even called him,
I have brought him and made his way prosper.
16Draw close to me, and hear this:
Not from the first did I speak in secret,
from when it came into being, there I was.
And now, the Master, the LORD,
17Thus said the LORD, your Redeemer,
Israel’s Holy One:
I am the LORD your God,
Who teaches you to avail,
guides you on the way you should go.
18Had you heeded My commands,
your well-being would have been like a river
and your bounty like the waves of the sea.
19And your seed beyond number like sand
and the offspring of your loins like its grains.
Its name before Me
would not be cut off and not be destroyed.
20Go out from Babylonia,
flee from the Chaldeans.
With a sound of glad song tell,
make this heard:
They have brought him out to the end of the earth.
Say—the LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob.
21And they did not thirst in the parched land where He led them.