"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.
Whatthen?WhatIsraelis seeking,it has not obtained,but those who were chosenobtainedit, and the restwere hardened;
"For while I was passing throughand examiningthe objects of your worship,I alsofoundan altarwith thisinscription,'TO AN UNKNOWNGOD.'Thereforewhatyou worshipin ignorance,thisI proclaimto you.
"But nowlisten,O Jacob,My servant,And Israel,whom I have chosen:
But [it is] not as thoughthe wordof Godhas failed.For they are not allIsraelwhoare [descended] from Israel;
"Unlessthe Lordhad shortened[those] days,nolifewould have been saved;but for the sakeof the elect,whomHe chose,He shortenedthe days.
"Unlessthosedayshad been cutshort,nolifewould have been saved;but for the sakeof the electthosedayswill be cut short.
"[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.'"
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.
not in lustfulpassion,likethe Gentileswho do not knowGod;
[remember] that you were at that timeseparatefrom Christ,excludedfrom the commonwealthof Israel,and strangersto the covenantsof promise,havingnohopeand without Godin the world.
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!
O seedof Abraham,His servant,O sonsof Jacob,His chosenones!
