1. People of Israel,I have chosen youas my servant.
2. I am your Creator.You were in my careeven before you were born.Israel, don't be terrified!You are my chosen servant,my very favourite.
3. I will bless the thirsty landby sending streams of water;I will bless your descendantsby giving them my Spirit.
4. They will spring up like grassor like willow treesnear flowing streams.
5. They will worship meand become my people.They will write my nameon the back of their hands.
6. I am the Lord All-Powerful,the first and the last,the one and only God.Israel, I have rescued you!I am your King.
7. Can anyone compare with me?If so, let them speak upand tell me now.Let them say what has happenedsince I made my nationlong ago,and let them tellwhat is going to happen.
8. Don't tremble with fear!Didn't I tell you long ago?Didn't you hear me?I alone am God—no one else is a mighty rock.
9. Those people who make idolsare nothing themselves,and the idols they treasureare just as worthless.Worshippers of idols are blind,stupid, and foolish.
10. Why make an idol or an imagethat can't do a thing?
11. Everyone who makes idolsand all who worship themare mere humans,who will end upsadly disappointed.Let them face me in courtand be terrified.
12. A metalworker shapes an idolby using a hammerand heat from the fire.In his powerful handhe holds a hammer,as he pounds the metalinto the proper shape.But he gets hungry and thirstyand loses his strength.
13. Some woodcarver measuresa piece of wood,then draws an outline.The idol is carefully carvedwith each detail exact.At last it looks like a personand is placed in a temple.
14. Cedar, cypress, oak,or any tree from the forestmay be chosen.Or even a pine tree plantedby the woodcarverand watered by the rain.
15. Some of the wood is usedto make a fire for heatingor for cooking.One piece is made into an idol,then the woodcarver bows downand worships it.
16. He enjoys the warm fireand the meat that was roastedover the burning coals.
17. Afterwards, he bows downto worship the wooden idol.“Protect me!” he says.“You are my god.”
18. Those who worship idols are stupid and blind!
19. They don't have enough sense to say to themselves, “I made a fire with half of the wood and cooked my bread and meat on it. Then I made something worthless with the other half. Why worship a block of wood?”
20. How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burnt to ashes? No one can save themselves like that. Don't they realize that the idols they hold in their hands are not really gods?
21. People of Israel,you are my servant,so remember all of this.Israel, I created you,and you are my servant.I won't forget you.
22. Turn back to me!I have rescued youand swept away your sinsas though they were clouds.
23. Tell the heavens and the earthto start singing!Tell the mountainsand every tree in the forestto join in the song!The Lord has rescued his people;now they will worship him.
24. Israel, I am your Lord.I am your source of life,and I have rescued you.I created everythingfrom the sky aboveto the earth below.
25. I make liars of false prophetsand fools of fortune-tellers.I take human wisdomand turn it into nonsense.
26. I will make the messageof my prophets come true.They are saying, “Jerusalemwill be filled with people,and the Lord will rebuildthe towns of Judah.”
27. I am the one who commandsthe sea and its streamsto run dry.
28. I am also the one who says,“Cyrus will lead my peopleand obey my orders.Jerusalem and the templewill be rebuilt.”