44:1 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have
chosen:
44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from
the womb, [who] will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob, my servant;
and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods
upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and
my blessing upon thy offspring:
44:4 And they shall spring up [as] among the grass, as willows
by the watercourses.
44:5 One shall say, I [am] the LORD'S; and another shall call
[himself] by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe
[with] his hand to the LORD, and surname [himself] by the name
of Israel.
44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer
the LORD of hosts; I [am] the first, and I [am] the last; and
besides me [there is] no God.
44:7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it
in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the
things that are coming, and shall come, let them show to them.
44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from
that time, and have declared [it]? ye [are] even my witnesses.
Is there a God besides me? verily [there is] no God; I know not
[any].
44:9 They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and
their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their
own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be
ashamed.
44:10 Who hath formed a god, or cast a graven image [that] is
profitable for nothing?
44:11 Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen,
they [are] of men: let them all be assembled, let them stand
up; [yet] they shall fear, [and] they shall be ashamed
together.
44:12 The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and
fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of
his arms: yes, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he
drinketh no water, and is faint.
44:13 The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh it out
with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out
with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man,
according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the
house.
44:14 He heweth down cedars for himself, and taketh the cypress
and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees
of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish
[it].
44:15 Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take of
it, and warm himself; indeed he kindleth [it], and baketh
bread; yes, he maketh a god, and worshipeth [it]; he maketh it
a graven image, and falleth down to it.
44:16 He burneth part of it in the fire; with part of it he
eateth flesh; he roasteth meat, and is satisfied: yes, he
warmeth [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the
fire:
44:17 And the residue of it he maketh a god, [even] his graven
image: he falleth down to it, and worshipeth [it], and prayeth
to it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou [art] my god.
44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their
eyes, that they cannot see; [and] their hearts, that they
cannot understand.
44:19 And none considereth in his heart, neither [is there]
knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in
the fire; I have also baked bread upon its coals; I have
roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue of
it an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?
44:20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him
aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there] not
a lie in my right hand?
44:21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou [art] my
servant: I have formed thee; thou [art] my servant: O Israel,
thou shalt not be forgotten by me.
44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions,
and as a cloud, thy sins: return to me; for I have redeemed
thee.
44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done [it]: shout, ye
lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye
mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath
redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
44:24 Thus saith the LORD thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee
from the womb, [I am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that
stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the
earth by myself:
44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh
diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh
their knowledge foolish;
44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth
the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou
shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be
built, and I will raise up her decayed places:
44:27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy
rivers:
44:28 That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and [he] shall
perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt
be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
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