Isaiah 48:12-19

New International Version

Israel Freed

¹²“Listen^(A) to me, Jacob,
    Israel, whom I have called:^(B)
I am he;^(C)
    I am the first and I am the last.^(D)
¹³My own hand laid the foundations of the earth,^(E)
    and my right hand spread out the heavens;^(F)
when I summon them,
    they all stand up together.^(G)

¹⁴“Come together,^(H) all of you, and listen:
    Which of the idols has foretold^(I) these things?
The Lord’s chosen ally^(J)
    will carry out his purpose^(K) against Babylon;^(L)
    his arm will be against the Babylonians.^[a]
¹⁵I, even I, have spoken;
    yes, I have called^(M) him.
I will bring him,
    and he will succeed^(N) in his mission.

¹⁶“Come near^(O) me and listen^(P) to this:

“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;^(Q)
at the time it happens, I am there.”

And now the Sovereign Lord^(R) has sent^(S) me,
endowed with his Spirit.^(T)

¹⁷This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer,^(U) the Holy One^(V) of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
    who teaches^(W) you what is best for you,
    who directs^(X) you in the way^(Y) you should go.
¹⁸If only you had paid attention^(Z) to my commands,
    your peace^(AA) would have been like a river,^(AB)
    your well-being^(AC) like the waves of the sea.
¹⁹Your descendants^(AD) would have been like the sand,^(AE)
    your children like its numberless grains;^(AF)
their name would never be blotted out^(AG)
    nor destroyed from before me.”