⁸ Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes,^(O)
and are deaf, yet have ears.
⁹ All the nations are gathered together,
and the peoples are assembled.^(P)
Who among them can declare this,^(Q)
and tell us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses
to vindicate themselves,
so that people may hear and say, “It is true.”
¹⁰ “You are my witnesses”^(R)—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“and my servant whom I have chosen,^(S)
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.^(T)
No god was formed before me,
and there will be none after me.^(U)
11 I—I am the Lord.
Besides me, there is no Savior.^(V)
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—
and not some foreign god^[a] among you.
So you are my witnesses”—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“and^[b] I am God.^(W)
13 Also, from today on I am he alone,
and none can rescue from my power.^(X)
I act, and who can reverse it?” ^(Y)

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says—
who makes a way in the sea,
and a path through raging water,^(AC)
17 who brings out the chariot and horse,^(AD)
the army and the mighty one together
(they lie down, they do not rise again;
they are extinguished, put out like a wick^(AE))—
¹⁸ “Do not remember the past events;
pay no attention to things of old.^(AF)
19 Look, I am about to do something new;^(AG)
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness,^(AH)
rivers^[f] in the desert.
²⁰ Wild animals—
jackals and ostriches—will honor me,
because I provide water in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert,^(AI)
to give drink to my chosen people.
²¹ The people I formed for myself
will declare my praise.^(AJ)

²² “But, Jacob, you have not called on me,
because, Israel, you have become weary of me.^(AK)
23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings
or honored me with your sacrifices.^(AL)
I have not burdened you with offerings
or wearied you with incense.^[g]
24 You have not bought me aromatic cane with silver,
or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins;
you have wearied me^(AM) with your iniquities.^(AN)

²⁵ “I am the one,I sweep away your transgressions^(AO)
for my own sake^(AP)
and remember your sins no more.^(AQ)
26 Remind me. Let’s argue the case together.^(AR)
Recount the facts, so that you may be vindicated.
²⁷ Your first father sinned,^(AS)
and your mediators have rebelled against me.^(AT)
28 So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary,
and set Jacob apart for destruction^(AU)
and Israel for scorn.

⁹ All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure benefits no one.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.^(BF)
10 Who makes a god or casts a metal image
that benefits no one?^(BG)
11 Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame,
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.

¹² The ironworker labors over the coals,
shapes the idol with hammers,
and works it with his strong arm.
Also he grows hungry and his strength fails;
he doesn’t drink water and is faint.
¹³ The woodworker stretches out a measuring line,
he outlines it with a stylus;
he shapes it with chisels
and outlines it with a compass.
He makes it according to a human form,^(BH)
like a beautiful person,
to dwell in a temple.
¹⁴ He cuts down^[k] cedars for his use,
or he takes a cypress or an oak.
He lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest.
He plants a laurel, and the rain makes it grow.
¹⁵ A person can use it for fuel.
He takes some of it and warms himself;
also he kindles a fire and bakes bread;
he even makes it into a god and worships it;
he makes an idol from it and bows down to it.
¹⁶ He burns half of it in a fire,
and he roasts meat on that half.
He eats the roast and is satisfied.
He warms himself and says, “Ah!
I am warm, I see the blaze.”
¹⁷ He makes a god or his idol with the rest of it.
He bows down to it and worships;
he prays to it,^(BI) “Save me, for you are my god.”
¹⁸ Such people^[l] do not comprehend
and cannot understand,
for he has shut their eyes^[m] so they cannot see,
and their minds so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one comes to his senses;^[n]
no one has the perception or insight to say,
“I burned half of it in the fire,
I also baked bread on its coals,
I roasted meat and ate.
Should I make something detestable^(BJ) with the rest of it?
Should I bow down to a block of wood?”
²⁰ He feeds on^[o] ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot rescue himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” ^(BK)

²¹ Remember these things, Jacob,
and Israel, for you are my servant;
I formed you, you are my servant;
Israel, you will never be forgotten by me.^[p](BL)
22 I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud,^(BM)
and your sins like a mist.
Return to me,^(BN)
for I have redeemed you.^(BO)
23 Rejoice, heavens,^(BP) for the Lord has acted;
shout, depths of the earth.
Break out into singing, mountains,
forest, and every tree in it.
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
and glorifies himself through Israel.^(BQ)