Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 But now thus says the LORD who created you, Ya`akov, and he who formed you, Yisra'el: Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine.
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But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: "Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle on you.
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When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end -
3 For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Yisra'el, your Savior; I have given Mitzrayim as your ransom, Kush and Seva in your place.
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Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
4 Since you have been precious in my sight, [and] honorable, and I have loved you; therefore will I give men in your place, and peoples instead of your life.
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That's how much you mean to me! That's how much I love you! I'd sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.
5 Don't be afraid; for I am with you: I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west;
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"So don't be afraid: I'm with you. I'll round up all your scattered children, pull them in from east and west.
6 I will tell the north, Give up; and to the south, Don't keep back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the eretz;
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I'll send orders north and south: 'Send them back. Return my sons from distant lands, my daughters from faraway places.
7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.
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I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman, and child Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one.'"
8 Bring forth the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears.
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Get the blind and deaf out here and ready - the blind (though there's nothing wrong with their eyes) and the deaf (though there's nothing wrong with their ears).
9 Let 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.
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Then get the other nations out here and ready. Let's see what they have to say about this, how they account for what's happened. Let them present their expert witnesses and make their case; let them try to convince us what they say is true.
10 You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
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"But you are my witnesses." God's Decree. "You're my handpicked servant So that you'll come to know and trust me, understand both that I am and who I am. Previous to me there was no such thing as a god, nor will there be after me.
11 I, even I, am the LORD; and besides me there is no savior.
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I, yes I, am God. I'm the only Savior there is.
12 I have declared, and I have saved, and I have shown; and there was no strange [god] among you: therefore you are my witnesses, says the LORD, and I am God.
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I spoke, I saved, I told you what existed long before these upstart gods appeared on the scene. And you know it, you're my witnesses, you're the evidence." God's Decree. "Yes, I am God.
13 Yes, since the day was I am he; and there is none who can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?
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I've always been God and I always will be God. No one can take anything from me. I make; who can unmake it?" You Didn't Even Do the Minimum
14 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Yisra'el: For your sake I have sent to Bavel, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Kasdim, in the ships of their rejoicing.
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God, your Redeemer, The Holy of Israel, says: "Just for you, I will march on Babylon. I'll turn the tables on the Babylonians. Instead of whooping it up, they'll be wailing.
15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Yisra'el, your King.
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I am God, your Holy One, Creator of Israel, your King."
16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
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This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves,
17 who brings 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):
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The God who summons horses and chariots and armies - they lie down and then can't get up; they're snuffed out like so many candles:
18 Don't remember the former things, neither consider the things of old.
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"Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
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Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.
20 The animals 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,
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Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' - the coyotes and the buzzards - Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose,
21 the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.
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the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.
22 Yet you have not called on me, Ya`akov; but you have been weary of me, Yisra'el.
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"But you didn't pay a bit of attention to me, Jacob. You so quickly tired of me, Israel.
23 You have not brought me of your sheep for burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
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You wouldn't even bring sheep for offerings in worship. You couldn't be bothered with sacrifices. It wasn't that I asked that much from you. I didn't expect expensive presents.
24 You have bought me no sweet cane with money, neither have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices; but you have burdened me with your sins, you have wearied me with your iniquities.
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But you didn't even do the minimum - so stingy with me, so closefisted. Yet you haven't been stingy with your sins. You've been plenty generous with them - and I'm fed up.
25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
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"But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins - that's what I do. I don't keep a list of your sins.
26 Put me in remembrance; let us plead together: set you forth [your cause], that you may be justified.
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"So, make your case against me. Let's have this out. Make your arguments. Prove you're in the right.
27 Your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.
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Your original ancestor started the sinning, and everyone since has joined in.
28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Ya`akov a curse, and Yisra'el a reviling.
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That's why I had to disqualify the Temple leaders, repudiate Jacob and discredit Israel.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.