Isaiah

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

Chapter 44

1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:

*Listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, the one I chose.

2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

*Thus says the God who created you and formed you in your mother's womb, to help you. Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, and you, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

*For I will give water to the thirsty person, and lots of water to the dry land. I will give my Spirit to your children, and my blessings to your descendants.

4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

*They will grow quickly like grass and will be like willow trees near streams.

5 One shall say, I am the LORD’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.

*One person will say, "I belong to the Lord." Another will call themselves Jacob. And another will write their commitment to the Lord and name themselves Israel.

6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

*Thus says the Lord, King of Israel and Savior, Lord of all powerful beings: I am the first and the last, with no other god besides me.

7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.

*Who else, like me, can call and tell others about it, organize it for me, since I set up the old people? And let those who know about future events show them to others.

8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

*Don't be scared or worried. From long ago, I've told you this and made it clear. You're my witnesses. Is there another god besides me? No, there isn't. I don't know any other god.

9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

*People who create idols are just wasting their time. Their nice things won't help them. They know it, but don't really see it, and eventually feel embarrassed.

10 Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?

*Who has created a god or made an idol from metal that brings no profit?

11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.

*Look, everyone he is with will feel embarrassed, and the workers are just people too. Let them all come together, let them stand up. But they will still be afraid and embarrassed at the same time.

12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

*The blacksmith uses tongs, hammers, and his arm strength to work on hot metal. He's very hungry and tired, but doesn't have time to drink water or rest.

13 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

*The carpenter measures with a ruler, marks it with a line, shapes it with planes, and draws a circle with a compass. He makes it look like a person for the house, so it stays there beautifully.

14 He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.

*He cuts down cedar trees and takes cypress and oak, making them strong among other trees in the forest. He plants an ash tree and rain makes it grow.

15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

*Then it will be used for heating: as he uses it to warm up, cooks bread, and creates an idol to worship. He also makes a carved statue and bows before it.

16 He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

*He burns some of it in the fire, uses part to cook meat, enjoys a cooked meal, feels warm, and says, "Aha, I'm warm, I've seen the fire."

17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

*And the rest of it, he turns into an idol, the one he carved. He bows down to it, worships it, prays to it, and says, Save me, because you are my god.

18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

*They don't know or understand: because he has closed their eyes, so they can't see; and their hearts, so they can't comprehend.

19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

*No one thinks about this in their heart, and they don't know or understand. They can't say, "I burned part of it in the fire, baked bread on the coals, roasted meat and ate it. So now, should I make the rest of it disgusting? Should I bow down to a tree's roots?"

20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

*He eats ash; a misled heart has led him astray, so he can't save his life or ask, "Isn't a lie in my right hand?"

21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.

*Remember this, Jacob and Israel: you are my servant. I created you, and you are mine. Israel, I won't forget you.

22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

*I have erased, like a big cloud, your wrongdoings and, like a cloud, your sins. Come back to me because I have saved you.

23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

*Heaven, sing! God made it happen! Earth, shout! Mountains, forests, and trees, sing out! The Lord saved Israel's people and showed his greatness.

24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

*"So says the Lord, your rescuer, and the one who created you in your mother's womb, I am the Lord who makes everything; the one who expands the skies on my own; the one who stretches out the earth all by myself."

25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

*This confuses the signs of deceivers, makes fortune-tellers angry, and reverses the wisdom of smart people, making their knowledge seem silly.

26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

*This verse means that God supports what His servant says and does what His messengers plan. He tells Jerusalem that people will live there again, and he tells the cities of Judah that they will be rebuilt, fixing any broken parts.

27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:

*That says to the ocean, "Dry up," and I will make your rivers disappear.

28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

*"He says about Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will do everything I want. He will tell Jerusalem, 'You will be rebuilt,' and to the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"

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