Isaiah 48

Yahweh Refines Stubborn Israel

1 Hear this, house of Jacob,

who are called by the name of Israel

and came out from the waters of Judah,

who swear by the name of Yahweh,

and invoke*Literally "cause to remember" the God of Israel,

but not in truth

and not in righteousness.

2 For they call themselves after the holy city,*Literally "from the city of the holiness"

and they lean on the God of Israel—

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

3 "I declared the former things from of old,*Literally "then"

and they went out from my mouth.

And I announced*Literally "caused to hear" them suddenly;

I acted,*Or "did" and they came to pass,

4 because I know*Literally "knowing me" that you are obstinate,

and your neck an iron sinew,

and your forehead bronze.

5 And I declared them to you from of old;

I announced*Literally "caused to hear" them to you before they came to pass

so that you would not say, ‘My idol did them,

and my image and my cast image commanded them.’

6 You have heard; see it all.

And will you not declare it?

I announce*Literally "cause to hear" new things to you from this time

and hidden things that*Or "and" you have not known.

7 Now they are created, and not from of old,*Literally "then"

and before today, and you have not heard them

so that you could not say, "Look! I knew them."

8 Neither have you heard, nor have you known,

nor from of old*Literally "then" has your ear been opened.

For I knew you would deal treacherously, very treacherously,

and you are called a rebel from the womb.

9 For the sake of my name I refrain from*Literally "make long" my anger,

and for my praise I restrain it for you

so as not to cut you off.

10 Look! I have refined you, but*Or "and" not like*Or "with" silver;

I have chosen you in the furnace of misery.

11 For my own sake, for my own sake I do it;

for why should it*That is, my name be defiled?

And I will not give my glory to another."

Yahweh Frees Israel

12 "Listen to me, Jacob,

and Israel, whom I called:*Literally "who was called by me"

I am he. I am the first;

also I am the last.

13 Indeed, my hand founded the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I summon*Or "calling" them, they stand in position together.

14 Assemble, all of you, and hear!

Who among them declared these things?

Yahweh loves him;

he shall perform*Or "do" his wish against Babylon

and his arm against the Chaldeans.*Literally "Chaldea"

15 I, I myself, I have spoken!

Indeed, I have called him.

I have brought him,

and he will be successful in his way.

16 Draw near to me; hear this! I have not spoken in secrecy from the beginning;*Literally "head"

from the time it came to be,*Literally "of becoming it" there I have been;

And now the Lord Yahweh has sent me and his Spirit."

17 Thus says Yahweh, your redeemer, the holy one of Israel:

"I am Yahweh your God, who teaches*Literally "teaching" you to profit,

leads you in the way you should go.

18 O that you had listened attentively to my commandments!

Then*Or "and" your prosperity would have been like a river,

and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

19 And your offspring would have been like the sand,

and the descendants of your body*Literally "intestines" like its grains.*Hebrew "grain"

It would not be cut off,

and its name would not be destroyed from my presence."

20 Go out from Babylon!

Flee from Chaldea!

Proclaim*Or "announce" it with a shout*Or "sound" of rejoicing; proclaim*Or "cause to hear" this!

Send it forth*Literally "Cause it to go out" to the end of the earth;

say, "Yahweh has redeemed his servant Jacob!"

21 And when he led them through the deserts, they were not thirsty;

he made water flow from the rock for them,

and he split the rock,

and the water gushed out.

22 "There is no peace," says Yahweh, "for the wicked."