139 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
139 lines
3.7 KiB
Markdown
Restoration of Israel
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# Chapter 43
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1. Now this is what the Lord says--
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the one who created you, Jacob,
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and the one who formed you, Israel--
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"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
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I have called you by your name; you are mine.
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2. When you pass through the waters,
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I will be with you,
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and the rivers will not overwhelm you.
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When you walk through the fire,
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you will not be scorched,
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and the flame will not burn you.
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3. For I am the Lord your God,
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the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior.
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I have given Egypt as a ransom for you,
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Cush and Seba in your place.
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4. Because you are precious in my sight
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and honored, and I love you,
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I will give people in exchange for you
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and nations instead of your life.
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5. Do not fear, for I am with you;
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I will bring your descendants from the east,
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and gather you from the west.
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6. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
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and to the south, 'Do not hold them back!'
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Bring my sons from far away,
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and my daughters from the ends of the earth--
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7. everyone who bears my name
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and is created for my glory.
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I have formed them; indeed, I have made them."
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8. Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes,
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and are deaf, yet have ears.
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9. All the nations are gathered together,
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and the peoples are assembled.
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Who among them can declare this,
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and tell us the former things?
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Let them present their witnesses
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to vindicate themselves,
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so that people may hear and say, "It is true."
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10. "You are my witnesses"--
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this is the Lord's declaration--
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"and my servant whom I have chosen,
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so that you may know and believe me
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and understand that I am he.
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No god was formed before me,
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and there will be none after me.
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11. I--I am the Lord.
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Besides me, there is no Savior.
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12. I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed--
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and not some foreign god among you.
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So you are my witnesses"--
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this is the Lord's declaration--
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"and I am God.
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13. Also, from today on I am he alone,
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and none can rescue from my power.
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I act, and who can reverse it?"
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God's Deliverance of Rebellious Israel
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14. This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:
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Because of you, I will send an army to Babylon
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and bring all of them as fugitives,
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even the Chaldeans in the ships in which they rejoice.
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15. I am the Lord, your Holy One,
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the Creator of Israel, your King.
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16. This is what the Lord says--
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who makes a way in the sea,
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and a path through raging water,
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17. who brings out the chariot and horse,
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the army and the mighty one together
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(they lie down, they do not rise again;
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they are extinguished, put out like a wick)--
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18. "Do not remember the past events;
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pay no attention to things of old.
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19. Look, I am about to do something new;
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even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
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Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,
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rivers in the desert.
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20. Wild animals--
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jackals and ostriches--will honor me,
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because I provide water in the wilderness,
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and rivers in the desert,
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to give drink to my chosen people.
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21. The people I formed for myself
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will declare my praise.
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22. "But, Jacob, you have not called on me,
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because, Israel, you have become weary of me.
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23. You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings
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or honored me with your sacrifices.
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I have not burdened you with offerings
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or wearied you with incense.
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24. You have not bought me aromatic cane with silver,
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or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.
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But you have burdened me with your sins;
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you have wearied me with your iniquities.
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25. "I am the one,I sweep away your transgressions
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for my own sake
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and remember your sins no more.
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26. Remind me. Let's argue the case together.
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Recount the facts, so that you may be vindicated.
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27. Your first father sinned,
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and your mediators have rebelled against me.
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28. So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary,
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and set Jacob apart for destruction
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and Israel for scorn.
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