Isaiah 44

The LORD Has Chosen Israel

1 “But now listen, Jacob My servant, Israel whom I chose.”

2 “This is what the Lord says, the One who made you, formed you in the womb, and helps you: Do not be afraid, My servant Jacob, Jeshurun whom I chose.”

3 “I am going to pour water on thirsty land and streams on dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on your children and My blessing on your descendants.”

4 “They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like willows by flowing streams.”

5 “One will say, ‘I belong to the Lord.’ Another will call themselves by Jacob’s name. Someone else will write on their hand, ‘The Lord’s,’ and claim the name Israel.”

6 This is what the Lord says, Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Armies: “I am the first and I am the last. Besides Me there is no God.”

7 “Who else can announce the future like I can, Let them step up and prove it. Let them tell what is coming, show they got power.”

8 “Do not be afraid and do not trip. Did I not tell you long ago what would happen, You are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, No, there is no other Rock.”

Idols There Is Nothing

9 Everyone making idols is wasting their time. Their precious statues do not do anything. Their witnesses cannot see or know anything, they should be ashamed.

10 Who makes a god or shapes an idol that does absolutely nothing,

11 Anyone who does that will be embarrassed. All their crew will end up ashamed. Let them all come together, they will be terrified and humiliated.

12 The metalworker works with fire, shapes an idol with his hammer, sweating and struggling. If he gets tired or hungry, he loses strength, but the idol stays powerless.

13 The carpenter measures wood, draws lines, shapes it with tools, carves it to look like a man, a statue that needs to stand still in someone’s house.

14 He cuts down cedar trees or picks oak or cypress. He lets the trees grow strong in the forest, trees God made.

15 Then he uses part of the wood for a fire, warms himself and bakes bread.

16 And with the rest he makes an idol and bows down to it.

17 He takes a piece of wood and prays, “Save me, you are my god!”

Idols Fool People

18 They do not know anything; they cannot understand. Their eyes are blind, their minds shut off, they cannot see truth.

19 They never stop to think, “Half this wood I burned for heat and cooked my food with… should I really bow down to the rest of it?”

20 They chasing ashes. Their hearts fooled them. They cannot save themselves or even say, “This idol in my hand is a lie.”

God Remembers His People

21 “Remember these things, Jacob and Israel, for you are My servant. I formed you, you belong to Me. You are My servant, Israel, I will not forget you.”

22 “I wiped out your sins like a thick cloud, your wrongdoing like a mist. Return to Me, I redeemed you.”

Creation Praises God

23 Sing, heavens, because the Lord has done it. Shout, earth! Mountains, forests, and trees, break out in praise, because the Lord redeemed Jacob and showed His glory in Israel.

God Controls Kings

24 This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the One who formed you in the womb: “I am the Lord who made everything, I stretched out the heavens alone and spread out the earth by Myself.”

25 “I make fortune-tellers look stupid and their predictions fail. I make wise men look foolish and turn their knowledge backwards.”

26 “I confirm the words of My servants and carry out My messengers’ plans. I say of Jerusalem, ‘It will be lived in,’ and of Judah’s towns, ‘They will be rebuilt,’ and I will raise up their ruins.”

27 I say to the deep waters, “Dry up, I am drying out your streams.”

28 And I say about Cyrus, “He is My shepherd. He will carry out everything I want. He will say to Jerusalem, ‘You will be rebuilt,’ and to the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”