Isaiah 43

The Restorer of Israel

¹But now thus says Yahweh,

he who created you, Jacob,

“You must not fear, for I have redeemed you.

²When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,

When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned,

³For I am Yahweh, your God,

I give you Egypt as ransom,

⁴Because you are precious in my eyes,

and I give people in place of you,

⁵You must not fear,

I will bring your offspring from the east,

⁶I will say to the north, ‘Give!’

Bring my sons from far away,

and my daughters from the end of the earth—

⁷everyone who is called by my name,

whom I formed,

⁸Bring out the people blind yet with eyes,[#Or “and”]

⁹Let all the nations gather together,

Who among them has declared this,

Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be in the right,

¹⁰“You are my witnesses,” declares Yahweh,[#Literally “declaration of”]

so that you may know and believe in me

No god was formed before me,

¹¹I myself am Yahweh,

¹²I myself declared and saved,

And you are my witnesses,” declares Yahweh,

¹³Indeed, from this day I am the one,

Yahweh Rescues His People

¹⁴Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer,

“For your sake I will send to Babylon,

¹⁵I am Yahweh, your holy one,

¹⁶Thus says Yahweh, who makes a way in the sea[#Literally “gives”]

¹⁷who brings out chariot and horse,

Together they lie down;

They are extinguished,

¹⁸“You must not remember the former things,

¹⁹Look! I am about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts!

Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,

²⁰The animals of the field will honor me,

for I give water in the wilderness,

to give a drink to my chosen people,

so they might make known my praise.

²²But you did not call me, Jacob;[#Or “And”]

²³You have not brought me your sheep for a burnt offering

I have not made you serve with offerings,

²⁴You have not bought me spice reed with money

But you have burdened me with your sins;

²⁵I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my sake,

²⁶Take me to court; let us enter into judgment together.

²⁷Your first ancestor sinned,[#Or “father”]

²⁸And I profaned the princes of the sanctuary,