1But now thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob , and he that formed thee, O Israel : Fear not , for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name , thou art mine . 2When thou passest through the waters , I will be with thee ; and through the rivers , they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned , neither shall the flame kindle upon thee . 3For I am Jehovah thy God , the Holy One of Israel , thy Saviour ; I have given Egypt as thy ransom , Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead . 4Since thou hast been precious in my sight , and honorable , and I have loved thee ; therefore will I give men in thy stead , and peoples instead of thy life . 5Fear not ; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east , and gather thee from the west ; 6I will say to the north , Give up ; and to the south , Keep not back ; bring my sons from far , and my daughters from the end of the earth; 7every one that is called by my name , and whom I have created for my glory , whom I have formed , yea, whom I have made .
The Call to Witness
8Bring forth the blind people that have eyes , and the deaf that have ears. 9Let all the nations be gathered together , and let the peoples be assembled : who among them can declare this , and show us former things ? let them bring their witnesses , that they may be justified ; or let them hear , and say, It is truth. 10Ye are my witnesses , saith Jehovah , and my servant whom I have chosen ; that ye may know and believe me , and understand that I am he : before me there was no God formed , neither shall there be after me . 11I , even I , am Jehovah ; and besides me there is no saviour . 12I have declared , and I have saved , and I have showed; and there was no strange god among you : therefore ye are my witnesses , saith Jehovah , and I am God . 13Yea , since the day was I am he ; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand : I will work , and who can hinder it ?
God's Promise of Restoration
14Thus saith Jehovah , your Redeemer , the Holy One of Israel : For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives , even the Chaldeans , in the ships of their rejoicing . 15I am Jehovah , your Holy One , the Creator of Israel , your King . 16Thus saith Jehovah , who maketh a way in the sea , and a path in the mighty waters ; 17who bringeth forth the chariot and horse , the army and the mighty man ( they lie down together , they shall not rise ; they are extinct , they are quenched as a wick ): 18Remember ye not the former things , neither consider the things of old . 19Behold , I will do a new thing ; now shall it spring forth ; shall ye not know it ? I will even make a way in the wilderness , and rivers in the desert . 20The beasts of the field shall honor me , the jackals and the ostriches ; because I give waters in the wilderness , and rivers in the desert , to give drink to my people , my chosen, 21the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise .
The Call to Repentance
22Yet thou hast not called upon me , O Jacob ; but thou hast been weary of me , O Israel . 23Thou hast not brought me of thy sheep for burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices . I have not burdened thee with offerings , nor wearied thee with frankincense . 24Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money , neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices ; but thou hast burdened me with thy sins , thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities . 25I , even I , am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake ; and I will not remember thy sins . 26Put me in remembrance ; let us plead together : set thou forth thy cause , that thou mayest be justified . 27Thy first father sinned , and thy teachers have transgressed against me . 28Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary ; and I will make Jacob a curse , and Israel a reviling.