The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 Listen to this, house of Ya'akov, called by the name of Isra'el, who have come from the spring of Y'hudah, who swear by the name of ADONAI and invoke the God of Isra'el! - it is not sincerely or justifiably
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"And now listen to this, family of Jacob, you who are called by the name Israel: Who got you started in the loins of Judah, you who use God's name to back up your promises and pray to the God of Israel? But do you mean it? Do you live like it?
2 that they call themselves people of the holy city or rely on the God of Isra'el - ADONAI-Tzva'ot is his name:
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You claim to be citizens of the Holy City; you act as though you lean on the God of Israel, named God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
3 "I announced things that happened at the beginning, long ago; they issued from my mouth, I proclaimed them. Then suddenly I acted, and they occurred.
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For a long time now, I've let you in on the way I work: I told you what I was going to do beforehand, then I did it and it was done, and that's that.
4 Because I knew that you were stubborn, your neck an iron sinew, your forehead bronze,
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I know you're a bunch of hardheads, obstinate and flint-faced,
5 I announced it to you long ago; before it occurred, I proclaimed it to you; so that you could not say, 'My idol did it; my carved image, my statue, gave the order for it.'
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So I got a running start and began telling you what was going on before it even happened. That is why you can't say, 'My god-idol did this.' 'My favorite god-carving commanded this.'
6 You have heard and seen all this, so why won't you admit it? "Now I am announcing new things to you, secret things you have not known,
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You have all this evidence confirmed by your own eyes and ears. Shouldn't you be talking about it? And that was just the beginning. I have a lot more to tell you, things you never knew existed.
7 created now, not long ago; before today, you did not hear them: so you can't say, 'I already know about them.'
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This isn't a variation on the same old thing. This is new, brand-new, something you'd never guess or dream up. When you hear this you won't be able to say, 'I knew that all along.'
8 No, you haven't heard, and you haven't known; these things have not reached your ears before. For I knew how treacherous you were - you were called a rebel from the womb.
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You've never been good listeners to me. You have a history of ignoring me, A sorry track record of fickle attachments - rebels from the womb.
9 Yet for the sake of my own reputation I am deferring my anger; for the sake of my praise I am patient with you, so as not to cut you off.
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But out of the sheer goodness of my heart, because of who I am, I keep a tight rein on my anger and hold my temper. I don't wash my hands of you.
10 "Look, I have refined you, but not [as severely] as silver; [rather] I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
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Do you see what I've done? I've refined you, but not without fire. I've tested you like silver in the furnace of affliction.
11 For my sake I will do it, for my own sake. I will not let [my reputation] be tarnished; I will not yield my glory to anyone else.
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Out of myself, simply because of who I am, I do what I do. I have my reputation to keep up. I'm not playing second fiddle to either gods or people.
12 "Listen to me, Ya'akov; Isra'el, whom I have called: I am he who is first; I am also the last.
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"Listen, Jacob. Listen, Israel - I'm the One who named you! I'm the One. I got things started and, yes, I'll wrap them up.
13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth, my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summoned them, at once they rose into being.
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Earth is my work, handmade. And the skies - I made them too, horizon to horizon. When I speak, they're on their feet, at attention.
14 "All of you, assemble and listen: which of you has foretold what is coming? ADONAI's friend will do his will against Bavel, using his arm against the Kasdim.
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"Come everybody, gather around, listen: Who among the gods has delivered the news? I, God, love this man Cyrus, and I'm using him to do what I want with Babylon.
15 It is I who have spoken, I have summoned him, I have brought him, and he will succeed.
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I, yes I, have spoken. I've called him. I've brought him here. He'll be successful.
16 "Come close to me, and listen to this: since the beginning I have not spoken in secret, since the time things began to be, I have been there; and now Adonai ELOHIM has sent me and his Spirit."
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Come close, listen carefully: I've never kept secrets from you. I've always been present with you." Your Progeny, Like Grains of Sand And now, the Master, God, sends me and his Spirit
17 Thus says ADONAI, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Isra'el: "I am ADONAI, your God, who teaches you for your own good, who guides you on the path you should take.
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with this Message from God, your Redeemer, The Holy of Israel: "I am God, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well. I show you what to do, where to go.
18 If only you would heed my mitzvot! Then your peace would flow on like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
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If you had listened all along to what I told you, your life would have flowed full like a river, blessings rolling in like waves from the sea.
19 Your descendants would be numerous as the sand, your offspring countless as its grains. Their name would never be cut off or destroyed from my presence."
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Children and grandchildren are like sand, your progeny like grains of sand. There would be no end of them, no danger of losing touch with me."
20 Get out of Bavel! Flee the Kasdim! With shouts of joy announce it, proclaim it! Send the news out to the ends of the earth! Say, "ADONAI has redeemed his servant Ya'akov."
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Get out of Babylon! Run from the Babylonians! Shout the news. Broadcast it. Let the world know, the whole world. Tell them, "God redeemed his dear servant Jacob!"
21 They weren't thirsty when he led them through the deserts, he made water flow from the rock for them - he split the rock, and out gushed the water.
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They weren't thirsty when he led them through the deserts. He made water pour out of the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed.
22 But there is no peace, says ADONAI, for the wicked.
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"There is no peace," says God, "for the wicked."
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.