(KJV) Isaiah 44¹

⥃The LORD Has Chosen Israel

[1] Yet now² hear, O Jacob³ my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: [2] Thus saith the Lord that made⁴ thee, and formed⁵ thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear⁶ not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun⁷, whom I have chosen. [3] For I will pour water⁸ upon him that is thirsty, and floods⁹ upon the dry ground¹⁰: I will pour my¹¹ spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: [4] And they shall spring¹² up [as] among the grass, as willows¹³ by the water courses. [5] One shall say, I [am¹⁴] the Lord’s; and another shall call [himself] by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe¹⁵ [with] his hand unto the Lord, and surname [himself] by the name¹⁶ of Israel. [6] Thus saith the Lord the King¹⁷ of Israel, and his redeemer¹⁸ the Lord of hosts; I [am] the first¹⁹, and I [am] the last; and beside²⁰ me [there is] no God. [7] And who²¹, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since²² I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. [8] Fear ye not, neither²³ be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared²⁴ [it]? ye [are²⁵] even my witnesses. Is there²⁶ a God beside me? yea, [there is] no God²⁷; I know not [any].

[9] They that make²⁸ a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their²⁹ delectable³⁰ things shall not profit; and they [are] their own³¹ witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. [10] Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image [that] is profitable for nothing?³² [11] Behold, all his³³ fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they [are] of men: let them all³⁴ be gathered together, let them stand up; [yet] they shall fear, [and] they shall be ashamed together. [12] The smith³⁵ with the tongs³⁶ both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is³⁷ hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint. [13] The carpenter stretcheth out [his] rule; he marketh³⁸ 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 may³⁹ remain in the house. [14] He heweth⁴⁰ him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth⁴¹ for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish [it]. [15] Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth [it], and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god⁴², and worshippeth [it]; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. [16] He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth [himself], and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: [17] And the residue thereof he maketh a god, [even] his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth [it], and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me⁴³; for thou [art] my god. [18] They have not⁴⁴ known nor understood: for he hath⁴⁵ shut⁴⁶ their eyes, that they cannot⁴⁷ see; [and] their hearts, that they cannot understand. [19] And none considereth in his heart⁴⁸, neither [is there] knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten [it]: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination⁴⁹? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree⁵⁰? [20] He feedeth⁵¹ on ashes: a deceived⁵² heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, [Is there⁵³] not a lie in my right hand?

⥃Jerusalem to Be Restored

[21] Remember⁵⁴ these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou [art⁵⁵] my servant: I have formed thee; thou [art] my servant: O Israel, thou shalt⁵⁶ not be forgotten of me. [22] I have blotted⁵⁷ out, as a thick⁵⁸ cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return⁵⁹ unto me; for I have redeemed thee. [23] Sing⁶⁰, 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 glorified⁶¹ himself in Israel. [24] Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer⁶², and he⁶³ that formed thee from the womb, I [am⁶⁴] the Lord that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself⁶⁵; [25] That frustrateth⁶⁶ the tokens of the liars, and maketh⁶⁷ diviners mad; that turneth⁶⁸ wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; [26] That confirmeth⁶⁹ the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith⁷⁰ to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will⁷¹ raise up the decayed places⁷² thereof: [27] That saith to the deep, Be dry⁷³, and I will dry up thy rivers: [28] That saith of Cyrus⁷⁴, [He is] my shepherd⁷⁵, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying⁷⁶ to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.