Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 43

1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

*But now, the Lord who made you, Jacob, and shaped you, Israel, says this: Don't be afraid because I have saved you. I have named you, and you belong to me.

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

*When you go through difficult times, I am with you; and in dangerous situations, you won't be harmed. When you face trials, you won't be hurt; and no flames will set you on fire.

3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

*Because I'm your divine God, the sacred one of Israel, your rescuer! I traded Egypt for you, and also offered Ethiopia and Seba as a gift to you.

4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

*Because you were valuable to me, you have been special, and I have loved you. That's why I will exchange many people for you and bring lots of people to live in your place.

5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

*Don't be afraid because I'm with you. I'll bring your descendants from the east and collect you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

*I'll tell the north to let go, and the south not to hold back. Bring my children from far away and my daughters from the farthest places on Earth.

7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

*Anyone I call by name: because I created them for my glory, I shaped them; yes, I made them.

8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

*Bring out those who are blind but have eyes, and those who are deaf but have ears.

9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

*Gather all the countries and their people. Who among them can show us past events? Let them present their witnesses to prove themselves right, or let them listen and agree it's true.

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

*"You are my witnesses," says the Lord, "and my chosen servant. This is so you can know, believe in me, and understand that I am God. There was no other God before me, and there will be none after me."

11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

*I myself am the LORD, and there is no one else to save.

12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

*I have announced, saved, and shown my greatness when no other gods were around. That's why you are my witnesses, says the Lord, proving that I am truly God.

13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

*Yes, even before the day began, I already am. There's no one who can save from my control. I will do whatever I want, and who can stop me?

14 Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

*The Lord, your savior, the holy protector of Israel, says this: I did this for you, sending a message to Babylon. There, I defeated their important people and the Chaldeans, who are known for their loud cries on the boats.

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

*I am your God, the holy one, who made Israel. I'm your ruler.

16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

*Thus says the Lord, who creates a path through the sea and a route in the deep waters.

17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

*This passage says that the one who creates armies, horses, and power will cause them to come together, but they won't be able to get up again. They will cease to exist, just like a piece of cotton soaked in water.

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

*Forget the past; don't think about old events anymore.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

*Look, I'm going to do something new; it will suddenly appear. Don't you see it? I will create paths in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

*The animals in the field will respect me, including dragons and owls. I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert for my people, my special chosen ones, so they can drink.

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

*I made these people for myself; they will show my glory.

22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

*But you didn't ask for my help, Jacob; instead, you've grown tired of me, Israel.

23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

*You haven't given me the small animals for your burnt offerings, and you haven't respected me with your sacrifices. I didn't make you serve with an offering or tire you with incense.

24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

*You didn't pay for my comfort or fill me up with your offerings. Instead, you made me work because of your sins and tired me out with your wrongdoings.

25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

*I myself am the one who erases your wrongdoings for my own benefit, and I will not remember your mistakes.

26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

*Remind me: let's ask together: tell me so you can be proven right.

27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.

*Your first father made a mistake, and your teachers went against me.

28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

*So, I made the holy leaders unholy and brought Jacob under a curse, while also disgracing Israel with insults.

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