Isaiah Chapter 44    

¹Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have chosen.
  ²This is what Yahweh, who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, says: “Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
  ³For I will pour water on the one who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my spirit on your seed and my blessing on your offspring,
  ⁴and they will spring up among the grass as willows by the watercourses.
  ⁵One will say, ‘I am Yahweh’s,’ and another will be called by the name of Jacob. And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to Yahweh,’ and name himself by the name of Israel.”
 

⁶This is what Yahweh, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God except me.
  ⁷Who is like me? Who will call and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.
  ⁸Do not fear, nor be afraid. Have I not declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God except me? Indeed, there is not. I do not know any other Rock.”
  ⁹Everyone who makes a carved image is nothing. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses do not see or know, so they will be put to shame.
  ¹⁰Who has fashioned a god, or casts a metal idol that is profitable for nothing?
  ¹¹Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed, and the workmen are mere men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together.
  ¹²The blacksmith takes an axe, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint.
  ¹³The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a stylus. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.
  ¹⁴He cuts down cedars for himself and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it.
  ¹⁵Then it will be for a man to burn, and he takes some of it, and warms himself. Yes, he burns it and bakes bread. Yes, he makes a god and worships it;^a he makes it a carved image and falls down to it.
  ¹⁶He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it, he eats meat. He roasts a roast and is satisfied. Yes, he warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.”
  ¹⁷The rest of it he makes into a god; his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, and he prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”
  ¹⁸They do not know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see, and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
  ¹⁹No one thinks, nor is there knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Will I make the rest of it into an abomination? Will I bow down to a tree trunk?”
  ²⁰He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside, and he cannot deliver his soul or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
  ²¹Remember these things, Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
  ²²I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
  ²³Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob and will glorify himself in Israel.
 

²⁴This is what Yahweh, your Redeemer and he who formed you from the womb, says: “I am Yahweh who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
  ²⁵who frustrates the signs of the liars and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge foolish;
  ²⁶who confirms the word of his servant and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’ and ‘I will raise up its waste places,’
  ²⁷who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers.’
  ²⁸Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the Temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”