"For the sakeof JacobMy servant,And IsraelMy chosen[one], I have also calledyou by your name;I have givenyou a titleof honorThough you have not knownMe.
O seedof Abraham,His servant,O sonsof Jacob,His chosenones!
Even a heritageto IsraelHis servant,For His lovingkindnessis everlasting.
But now,thussaysthe LORD,your Creator,O Jacob,And He who formedyou, O Israel,"Do not fear,for I have redeemedyou; I have calledyou by name;you are Mine!
Thussaysthe LORDyour Redeemer,the HolyOneof Israel,"For your sakeI have sentto Babylon,And will bringthem alldownas fugitives,Even the Chaldeans,into the shipsin which they rejoice.
"But nowlisten,O Jacob,My servant,And Israel,whom I have chosen:
"[It is I] who saysof Cyrus,'[He is] My shepherd!And he will performallMy desire.'And he declaresof Jerusalem,She will be built,'And of the temple,Your foundationwill be laid.'"
"Unlessthosedayshad been cutshort,nolifewould have been saved;but for the sakeof the electthosedayswill be cut short.
"Unlessthe Lordhad shortened[those] days,nolifewould have been saved;but for the sakeof the elect,whomHe chose,He shortenedthe days.
"For while I was passing throughand examiningthe objects of your worship,I alsofoundan altarwith thisinscription,'TO AN UNKNOWNGOD.'Thereforewhatyou worshipin ignorance,thisI proclaimto you.
Whatthen?WhatIsraelis seeking,it has not obtained,but those who were chosenobtainedit, and the restwere hardened;
But [it is] not as thoughthe wordof Godhas failed.For they are not allIsraelwhoare [descended] from Israel;
[remember] that you were at that timeseparatefrom Christ,excludedfrom the commonwealthof Israel,and strangersto the covenantsof promise,havingnohopeand without Godin the world.
not in lustfulpassion,likethe Gentileswho do not knowGod;
