From the time that I appointed the people of the destined age? The things that are now coming, and are to come hereafter, let them declare unto us. 8 Fear ye not, neither be ye afraid : Have I not declared it unto you from the first? Yea, there is no sure protector; I know not any. 9 They that form the graven image are all of them vanity; And their most curious works shall not profit. Yea, their works themselves bear witness to them, That they see not, and that they understand not: 10 That every one may be ashamed, that he hath formed a god; And cast a graven image, that profiteth not. 11 Behold, all his associates shall be ashamed; Even the workmen themselves shall blush: 12 They shall assemble all of them; they shall present themselves; They shall fear, and be ashamed together. The smith cutteth off a portion of iron: He worketh it in the coals, and with hammers he formeth it: And he exerteth upon it the force of his arm. Yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth him; 13 The carpenter stretcheth his line; He marketh out the form of it with red ochre : He figureth it with the compass: He maketh it according to the fashion of a man; According to the beauty of the human form, that it may abide in the house. 14 He heweth down cedars for his use: And he taketh the pine, and the oak ; And layeth in good store of the trees of the forest. He planteth the ash, and the rain nourisheth it; 15 That it may be for the use of man, for fuel: And he taketh thereof, and warmeth himself; He maketh of it a graven image, and boweth down 16 Part of it he burneth in the fire; And with part of it he dresseth flesh, and eateth: Aha! I am warmed, I have enjoyed the fire: 17 And the remainder thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image; He boweth down to it, and worshippeth it; Deliver me, for thou art my God! 18 They know not, neither do they understand: Verily their eyes are closed up, that they cannot see; And their heart, that they cannot rightly discern: 19 Neither doth he consider in his heart; Neither hath he knowledge, nor understanding, to say: Part of it I have burned in the fire; I have also baked bread on the coals thereof; And shall I make the remnant an abomination? 20 He feedeth on ashes; a deluded heart leadeth him aside; So that he cannot deliver his own soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? 21 Remember these things, O Jacob; And, Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art a servant unto me; O Israel, by me thou shalt not be forgotten. 22 I have made thy transgressions vanish away like a cloud; 23 24 And thy sins like a vapour: Return unto me: for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens, for JEHOVAH hath effected Utter a joyful sound, O ye depths of the earth: Thou, forest, and every tree therein! Thus saith JEHOVAH, thy Redeemer; I am JEHOVAH, who make all things; Who spread the firm earth by myself: 25 I am He, who frustrateth the prognostics of the im postors; And maketh the diviners mad: Who reverseth the devices of the sages, And infatuateth their knowledge: 26 Who establisheth the word of his servant: And accomplisheth the counsel of his messengers: Who saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; And to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built; And her desolated places I will restore: 27 Who saith to the deep, Be thou wasted; And I will make dry thy rivers: 28 Who saith to Cyrus, Thou art my shepherd! Who saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; 1 CHAP. XLV. THUS saith JEHOVAH to his anointed; To Cyrus, whom I hold fast by the right hand: That I may open before him the valves; 2 I will go before thee; And make the mountains level: The valves of brass will I break in sunder; And the bars of iron will I hew down. 3 And I will give unto thee the treasures of darkness, And the stores deep hidden in secret places; That thou mayest know, that I am JEHOVAH; He that calleth thee by thy name, the God of Israel. 4 For the sake of my servant Jacob; And of Israel, my chosen; I have even called thee by thy name; I have surnamed thee, though thou knowest me not. 5 I am JEHOVAH, and none else; Beside me there is no God: I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me. 6 That they may know, from the rising of the sun, And from the west, that there is none beside me: I am JEHOVAH, and none else; 7 Forming light, and creating darkness; Making peace, and creating evil : 8 I JEHOVAH am the author of all these things. Drop down, O ye heavens, the dew from above And let justice push forth her bud together: 9 Woe unto him, that contendeth with the power that formed him; The potsherd with the moulder of the clay! Shall the clay say to the potter, What makest thou? 10 Woe unto him, that saith to his father, What begettest thou? 11 And to his mother, What dost thou bring forth? Thus saith JEHOVAH, the Holy One of Israel; 12 I have made the earth; And man upon it I have created: My hands have stretched out the heavens ; 13 I have raised him up in righteousness; 14 15 16 And I will make level all his ways. He shall build my city, and release my captives; Saith JEHOVAH God of hosts. Thus saith JEHOVAH: The wealth of Egypt, and the merchandise of Cush, Shall come over to thee, and shall be thine: They shall follow thee; in chains shall they pass along; They shall bow down to thee, and in suppliant guise address thee: In thee alone is God; And there is no God besides whatever. Verily, Thou art a God that hidest thy counsels, O God of Israel, the Saviour! They are ashamed, they are even confounded, his adversaries, all of them; |