Isaiah 43:22-44:23

New International Version

²² “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied^(A) yourselves for^[a] me, Israel.^(B)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,^(C)
    nor honored^(D) me with your sacrifices.^(E)
I have not burdened^(F) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands^(G) for incense.^(H)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus^(I) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat^(J) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied^(K) me with your offenses.^(L)

²⁵ “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,^(M) for my own sake,^(N)
    and remembers your sins^(O) no more.^(P)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;^(Q)
    state the case^(R) for your innocence.
²⁷ Your first father^(S) sinned;
    those I sent to teach^(T) you rebelled^(U) against me.
²⁸ So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction^[b](V)
    and Israel to scorn.^(W)

⁹ All who make idols^(AZ) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(BA)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(BB)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(BC)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(BD)
    which can profit nothing?^(BE)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;^(BF)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(BG)

¹² The blacksmith^(BH) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.^(BI)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(BJ)
13 The carpenter^(BK) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,^(BL)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(BM)
14 He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,^(BN) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵ It is used as fuel^(BO) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships^(BP) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(BQ) down to it.
¹⁶ Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.^(BR)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(BS)
He prays^(BT) to it and says,
    “Save^(BU) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(BV) nothing;
    their eyes^(BW) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding^(BX) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(BY)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(BZ) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(CA)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(CB) a deluded^(CC) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(CD)”

²¹ “Remember^(CE) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.^(CF)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(CG)
    Israel, I will not forget you.^(CH)
22 I have swept away^(CI) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(CJ) to me,
    for I have redeemed^(CK) you.”

²³ Sing for joy,^(CL) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth^(CM) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,^(CN)
    you forests and all your trees,^(CO)
for the Lord has redeemed^(CP) Jacob,
    he displays his glory^(CQ) in Israel.