Isaiah 43

LEB(i) 1 But now thus says Yahweh,
he who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel: "You must not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are mine.* 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not flow over you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not scorch* you. 3 For I am Yahweh, your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior. I give you Egypt as ransom, Cush and Seba in place of you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I myself love you, and I give people in place of you, and nations in place of your life. 5 You must not fear, for I am with you. I will bring your offspring* from the east, and I will gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, 'Give!' and to the south, 'You must not withhold!' Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the end of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, and whom I created for my glory, whom I formed, indeed whom I made." 8 Bring out the people blind yet* with eyes, and deaf, though* they have ears. 9 Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble. Who among them has declared this, and declared* the former things to us? Let them bring* their witnesses, that* they may be in the right, and let them hear and say, "It is true!" 10 "You are my witnesses," declares* Yahweh, "and my servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and believe in* me and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me*, and none shall be after me. 11 I myself am Yahweh, and there is no savior besides me! 12 I myself declared and saved, and I proclaimed.* And there was no strange god* among you. And you are my witnesses," declares* Yahweh, "and I am God. 13 Indeed, from this day I am the one, and no one can deliver from my hand. I perform,* and who can cancel it?"* 14 Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer, the holy one of Israel: "For your sake I will send to Babylon, and I will cause all of them to fall down as fugitives, and the Chaldeans,* their rejoicing on the ships. 15 I am Yahweh, your holy one, the creator of Israel, your king." 16 Thus says Yahweh, who makes* a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and mighty one. Together they lie down; they cannot rise. They are extinguished, quenched like a wick. 18 "You must not remember the former things, and you not must consider the former things. 19 Look! I am about to do a new thing! Now it sprouts! Do you not perceive* it? Indeed, I will make* a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. 20 The animals of the field will honor me, jackals and daughters of the ostrich, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give a drink to my chosen people, 21 this people whom I formed for myself, so they might make known* my praise. 22 But* you did not call me, Jacob; for you have become weary of me, Israel. 23 You have not brought me your sheep for a burnt offering nor* honored me with your sacrifice. I have not made you serve with offerings,* nor have I made you weary with frankincense. 24 You have not bought me spice reed with money or* satisfied me with the fat of sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have made me weary with your iniquities. 25 I, I am the one who blots out your transgressions for my sake, and I will not remember your sins. 26 Take me to court; let us enter into judgment together. You, make an account* so that you may be in the right. 27 Your first ancestor* sinned, and your representatives* transgressed against me. 28 And I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and I gave Jacob to destruction, and Israel to reviling.