12. I have revealed it to you, I have saved you,and I have announced it to you.There was no foreign ⌊god⌋ among you.You are my witnesses that I am God,” declares the Lord.
13. “From the ⌊first⌋ day I was the one ⌊who did this⌋.No one can rescue people from my power.When I do something, who can undo it?”
14. This is what the Lord, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel, says:For your sake I will send ⌊an army⌋ to Babylon.I will bring back all the Babylonian refugeesin the ships that they take pride in.
15. I am the Lord, your Holy One,the Creator of Israel, your King.
16. The Lord makes a path through the seaand a road through the strong currents.
17. He leads chariots and horses, an army and reinforcements.(They lie down together and do not get up ⌊again⌋.They are extinguished and snuffed out like a wick.)This is what the Lord says:
18. Forget what happened in the past,and do not dwell on events from long ago.
19. I am going to do something new.It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it?I will clear a way in the desert.I will make rivers on dry land.
20. Wild animals, jackals, and ostriches will honor me.I will provide water in the desert.I will make rivers on the dry land for my chosen people to drink.
21. I have formed these people for myself.They will praise me.
22. Jacob, you have not prayed to me.Israel, you have grown tired of me.
23. You did not bring me sheep for your burnt offeringsor honor me with your sacrifices.I did not burden you by requiring grain offeringsor trouble you by requiring incense offerings.