104 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
104 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
Israel the LORD's Chosen
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# Chapter 44
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1. "But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
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Israel whom I have chosen!
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2. Thus says the LORD who made you,
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who formed you from the womb and will help you:
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Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
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Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
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3. For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
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and streams on the dry ground;
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I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
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and my blessing on your descendants.
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4. They shall spring up among the grass
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like willows by flowing streams.
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5. This one will say, 'I am the LORD's,'
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another will call on the name of Jacob,
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and another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,'
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and name himself by the name of Israel."
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Besides Me There Is No God
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6. Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
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and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
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"I am the first and I am the last;
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besides me there is no god.
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7. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
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Let him declare and set it before me,
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since I appointed an ancient people.
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Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
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8. Fear not, nor be afraid;
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have I not told you from of old and declared it?
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And you are my witnesses!
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Is there a God besides me?
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There is no Rock; I know not any."
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The Folly of Idolatry
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9. All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.
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10. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?
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11. Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.
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12. The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with his strong arm. He becomes hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water and is faint.
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13. The carpenter stretches a line; he marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.
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14. He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.
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15. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it.
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16. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!"
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17. And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!"
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18. They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.
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19. No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?"
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20. He feeds on ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"The LORD Redeems Israel
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21. Remember these things, O Jacob,
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and Israel, for you are my servant;
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I formed you; you are my servant;
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O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
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22. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud
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and your sins like mist;
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return to me, for I have redeemed you.
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23. Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it;
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shout, O depths of the earth;
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break forth into singing, O mountains,
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O forest, and every tree in it!
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For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
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and will be glorified in Israel.
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24. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
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who formed you from the womb:
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"I am the LORD, who made all things,
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who alone stretched out the heavens,
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who spread out the earth by myself,
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25. who frustrates the signs of liars
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and makes fools of diviners,
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who turns wise men back
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and makes their knowledge foolish,
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26. who confirms the word of his servant
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and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
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who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,'
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and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built,
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and I will raise up their ruins';
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27. who says to the deep, 'Be dry;
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I will dry up your rivers';
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28. who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd,
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and he shall fulfill all my purpose';
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saying of Jerusalem, 'She shall be built,'
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and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"
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