19. They have not thought about these things;they don’t understand.They have never thought to themselves,“I burned half of the wood in the fireand used the hot coals to bake my bread.I cooked and ate my meat.And I used the wood that was left to make this hateful thing.I am worshiping a block of wood!”
20. He doesn’t know what he is doing;his confused mind leads him the wrong way.He cannot save himselfor say, “This statue I am holding is a false god.”
21. “People of Jacob, remember these things!People of Israel, remember you are my servants.I made you, and you are my servants.So Israel, I will not forget you.
22. I have swept away your sins like a big cloud;I have removed your sins like a cloud that disappears into the air.Come back to me because I saved you.”
23. Skies, sing for joy because the Lord did great things!Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts!Sing, you mountains, with thanks to God.Sing, too, you trees in the forest!The Lord saved the people of Jacob!He showed his glory when he saved Israel.
24. This is what the Lord says, who saved you,who formed you in your mother’s body:“I, the Lord, made everything,stretching out the skies by myselfand spreading out the earth all alone.
25. I show that the signs of the lying prophets are false;I make fools of those who do magic.I confuse even the wise;they think they know much, but I make them look foolish.
26. I make the messages of my servants come true;I make the advice of my messengers come true.I say to Jerusalem,‘People will live in you again!’I say to the towns of Judah,‘You will be built again!’I say to Jerusalem’s ruins,‘I will repair you.’
27. I tell the deep waters, ‘Become dry!I will make your streams become dry!’