Isaiah 43:14-21
New English Translation
The Lord Will Do Something New
14 This is what the Lord says,
your Protector,[a] the Holy One of Israel:[b]
“For your sake I send to Babylon
and make them all fugitives,[c]
turning the Babylonians’ joyful shouts into mourning songs.[d]
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,[e]
the one who created Israel, your king.”
16 This is what the Lord says,
the one who made a road through the sea,
a pathway through the surging waters,
17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction,[f]
together with a mighty army.
They fell down,[g] never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
18 “Don’t remember these earlier events;[h]
don’t recall these former events.
19 Look, I am about to do something new.
Now it begins to happen![i] Do you not recognize[j] it?
Yes, I will make a road in the wilderness
and paths[k] in the wastelands.
20 The wild animals[l] honor me,
the jackals and ostriches,
because I put water in the wilderness
and streams in the wastelands,
to quench the thirst of my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself,
so they might praise me.[m]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 43:14 tn Or “kinsman redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.
- Isaiah 43:14 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
- Isaiah 43:14 tn Heb “and I bring down [as] fugitives all of them.”
- Isaiah 43:14 tn The Hebrew text reads literally, “as for the Babylonians, in ships their joyful shout.” This might be paraphrased, “even the Babylonians in the ships [over which] they joyfully shouted.” The point would be that the Lord caused the Babylonians to flee for safety in the ships in which they took such great pride. A slight change in vocalization yields the reading “into mourning songs,” which provides a good contrast with “joyful shout.” The prefixed bet (בְּ) would indicate identity.
- Isaiah 43:15 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
- Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “led out chariots and horses.” The words “to destruction” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The verse refers to the destruction of the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
- Isaiah 43:17 tn Heb “lay down”; NAB “lie prostrate together”; CEV “lie dead”; NRSV “they lie down.”
- Isaiah 43:18 tn Heb “the former things” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “forget all that.”
- Isaiah 43:19 tn Heb “sprouts up”; NASB “will spring forth.”
- Isaiah 43:19 tn Or “know” (KJV, ASV); NASB “be aware of”; NAB, NIV, NRSV “perceive.”
- Isaiah 43:19 tn The Hebrew text has “streams,” probably under the influence of v. 20. The Qumran scroll 1QIsaa has נתיבות (“paths”).
- Isaiah 43:20 tn Heb “animals of the field.”
- Isaiah 43:21 tn Heb “[so] they might declare my praise.”
Isaiah 43:14-21
New International Version
God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness
14 This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer,(A) the Holy One(B) of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitives(C) all the Babylonians,[a](D)
in the ships in which they took pride.
15 I am the Lord,(E) your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator,(F) your King.(G)”
16 This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,(H)
17 who drew out(I) the chariots and horses,(J)
the army and reinforcements together,(K)
and they lay(L) there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:(M)
18 “Forget the former things;(N)
do not dwell on the past.
19 See, I am doing a new thing!(O)
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness(P)
and streams in the wasteland.(Q)
20 The wild animals(R) honor me,
the jackals(S) and the owls,
because I provide water(T) in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 the people I formed(U) for myself(V)
that they may proclaim my praise.(W)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 43:14 Or Chaldeans
Isaiah 43:14-21
King James Version
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.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
16 Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty 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.
18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
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.
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.
21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
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Isaiah 43:14-21
New King James Version
14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon,
And bring them all down as fugitives—
The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
The Creator of Israel, your (A)King.”
16 Thus says the Lord, who (B)makes a way in the sea
And a (C)path through the mighty waters,
17 Who (D)brings forth the chariot and horse,
The army and the power
(They shall lie down together, they shall not rise;
They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
18 “Do(E) not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a (F)new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
(G)I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
20 The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because (H)I give waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
21 (I)This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My (J)praise.
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