Isaiah 43:1-28 (New International Version)

Israel's Only Savior

1 But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created¹ you, O Jacob, he who formed² you, O Israel:³ "Fear not, for I have redeemed⁴ you; I have summoned you by name;⁵ you are mine.⁶ 2 When you pass through the waters,⁷ I will be with you;⁸ and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire,⁹ you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.¹⁰ 3 For I am the LORD, your God,¹¹ the Holy One¹² of Israel, your Savior;¹³ I give Egypt¹⁴ for your ransom, Cush^a15 and Seba¹⁶ in your stead.¹⁷ 4 Since you are precious and honored¹⁸ in my sight, and because I love¹⁹ you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid,²⁰ for I am with you;²¹ I will bring your children²² from the east and gather²³ you from the west.²⁴ 6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south,²⁵ 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters²⁶ from the ends of the earth²⁷-- 7 everyone who is called by my name,²⁸ whom I created²⁹ for my glory,³⁰ whom I formed and made.³¹" 8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,³² who have ears but are deaf.³³ 9 All the nations gather together³⁴ and the peoples assemble. Which of them foretold³⁵ this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right, so that others may hear and say, "It is true." 10 "You are my witnesses,³⁶" declares the LORD, "and my servant³⁷ whom I have chosen, so that you may know³⁸ and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god³⁹ was formed, nor will there be one after me.⁴⁰ 11 I, even I, am the LORD,⁴¹ and apart from me there is no savior.⁴² 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god⁴³ among you. You are my witnesses,⁴⁴" declares the LORD, "that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days⁴⁵ I am he.⁴⁶ No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"⁴⁷

God's Mercy and Israel's Unfaithfulness

14 This is what the LORD says-- your Redeemer,⁴⁸ the Holy One⁴⁹ of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives⁵⁰ all the Babylonians,^b51 in the ships in which they took pride. 15 I am the LORD,⁵² your Holy One, Israel's Creator,⁵³ your King.⁵⁴" 16 This is what the LORD says-- he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,⁵⁵ 17 who drew out⁵⁶ the chariots and horses,⁵⁷ the army and reinforcements together,⁵⁸ and they lay⁵⁹ there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:⁶⁰ 18 "Forget the former things;⁶¹ do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing!⁶² Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert⁶³ and streams in the wasteland.⁶⁴ 20 The wild animals⁶⁵ honor me, the jackals⁶⁶ and the owls, because I provide water⁶⁷ in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed⁶⁸ for myself⁶⁹ that they may proclaim my praise.⁷⁰ 22 "Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob, you have not wearied⁷¹ yourselves for me, O Israel.⁷² 23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,⁷³ nor honored⁷⁴ me with your sacrifices.⁷⁵ I have not burdened⁷⁶ you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands⁷⁷ for incense.⁷⁸ 24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus⁷⁹ for me, or lavished on me the fat⁸⁰ of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied⁸¹ me with your offenses.⁸² 25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions,⁸³ for my own sake,⁸⁴ and remembers your sins⁸⁵ no more.⁸⁶ 26 Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together;⁸⁷ state the case⁸⁸ for your innocence. 27 Your first father⁸⁹ sinned; your spokesmen⁹⁰ rebelled⁹¹ against me. 28 So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple, and I will consign Jacob to destruction^c92 and Israel to scorn.⁹³