I will make the rivers dry deserts; 16 I will lead the blind in a way, which they have not known; 17 18 And through paths, which they have not known, will I will turn darkness into light before them; And the rugged ways into a smooth plain. These things will I do for them, and will not forsake them. They are turned backward, they are utterly con- And, ye blind, look attentively, that ye may see! 19 Who is blind, but my servant; And deaf, as he to whom I have sent my messengers? 20 Thou hast seen indeed, yet thou dost not regard; He hath exalted his own praise, and made it glorious. 22 But this is a people spoiled and plundered: 23 All their chosen youths are taken in the toils, They are become a spoil, and there was none to A plunder, and no one said, Restore. Who is there among you, that will listen to this; That will hearken, and attend to it, for the future? 24 Who hath given Jacob for a spoil; And Israel to the plunderers? Was it not JEHOVAH; He, against whom they have sinned; In whose ways they would not walk; 25 Therefore poured he out upon them the heat of his wrath, and the violence of war: 1 And it kindled a flame round about him, yet he did not regard it; And it set him on fire, yet he did not consider it. CHAP. XLIII. YET now, thus saith JEHOVAH, Who created thee, O Jacob; and who framed thee, Fear thou not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through waters, I am with thee; And through rivers, they shall not overwhelm thee: When thou walkest in the fire, thou shalt not be scorched; And the flame shall not take hold of thee. 3 For I am JEHOVAH, thy God; The Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer : Cush, and Saba, in thy stead. 4 Because thou hast been precious in my sight, Thou hast been honoured, and I have loved thee: Therefore will I give men instead of thee; And peoples instead of thy soul. 5 Fear thou not, for I am with thee: From the east I will bring thy children, 6 I will say to the north, Give up; And to the south, Withhold not: Bring my sons from afar; And my daughters from the ends of the earth: 7 Every one that is called by my name, Whom for my glory I have created; Whom I have formed, yea whom I have made. 8 Bring forth the people, blind, although they have eyes; And deaf, although they have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the peoples be collected. 10 Who among them will declare this; And will tell us, what first shall come to pass ? ́Or let them hear in their turn, and say, This is true. Even my servant, whom I have chosen : And after me none shall exist. 11 I, even I, am JEHOVAH; And beside me there is no saviour. 12 I declared my purpose, and I have saved : I made it known; nor was it any strange god among you: And ye are my witnesses, saith JEHOVAH, that I am God. 13 Even before time was, I am He; 14 And there is none, that can rescue out of my hand: I work; and who shall undo what I have done? Thus saith JEHOVAH, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake have I sent unto Babylon; And I will bring down all her strong bars; And the Chaldeans, exulting in their ships: 15 I am JEHOVAH, your Holy One; And a path in the mighty waters: 17 Who brought forth the rider and the horse, the army and the warrior; Together they lay down, they rose no more; They were extinguished, they were quenched like tow: 18 Remember not the former things; And the things of ancient times regard not; 19 Behold, I make a new thing; Even now shall it spring forth: will ye not regard it? In the desert, streams of water. 20 The wild beast of the field shall glorify me; The dragons, and the daughters of the ostrich: To give drink to my people, my chosen: 22 But thou hast not invoked me, O Jacob; Neither on my account hast thou laboured, O Israel. 23 Thou hast not brought to me the lamb of thy burntoffering; Neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices: I have not burdened thee with exacting oblations; Nor wearied thee with demands of frankincense: 24 Thou hast not purchased for me with silver the aromatic reed; Neither hast thou satiated me with the fat of thy sacrifices. On the contrary, thou hast burdened me with thy sins; Thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. 25 I, even I, am He; I blot out thy transgressions for mine own sake; 26 Remind me of thy plea: let us be judged on equal terms; Set forth thine own cause, that thou mayest clear thyself. 27 Thy chief leader hath sinned; And thy public teachers have revolted from me; 28 And thy princes have profaned my sanctuary: Therefore will I give up Jacob for a devoted thing, And Israel to reproach. 1 CHAP. XLIV. BUT hear now, O Jacob, my servant; And Israel, whom I have chosen : 2 Thus saith JEHOVAH, thy Maker; And he that formed thee from the womb, and will help thee: Fear thou not, O my servant Jacob; And, O Jeshurun, whom I have chosen : 4 And they shall spring up as the grass among the waters; As the willows beside the aqueducts. 5 One shall say; I belong to JEHOVAH; 6 And another shall be called by the name of Jacob: And shall be surnamed by the name of Israel. I am the first, and I am the last : And beside me there is no God. 7 And who is like me, that he should call forth this event, And make it known beforehand, and dispose it for me, |