"Listento Me, O Jacob,even Israelwhom I called;I am He, I am the first,I am alsothe last.
Nowtherefore, [my] sons,listento me, And payattentionto the wordsof my mouth.
"Nowtherefore, [O] sons,listento me, For blessedare they who keepmy ways.
Drawnear,O nations,to hear;and listen,O peoples!Let the earthand all it containshear,and the worldand allthat springsfrom it.
Liftup your eyeson highAnd seewhohas createdthese[stars], The One who leadsforththeir hostby number,He callsthem allby name;Becauseof the greatnessof His mightand the strengthof [His] power,Not one[of them] is missing.
"Whohas performedand accomplished[it], Callingforth the generationsfrom the beginning?I, the LORD,am the first,and with the last.I am He.'"
"You are My witnesses,"declaresthe LORD,"And My servantwhomI have chosen,So that you may knowand believeMe And understandthat I am He. BeforeMe there was noGodformed,And there will be noneafterMe.
"I, even I, am the LORD,And thereis nosaviorbesidesMe.
"But nowlisten,O Jacob,My servant,And Israel,whom I have chosen:
"Thussaysthe LORD,the Kingof Israeland his Redeemer,the LORDof hosts:I am the firstand I am the last,And thereis noGodbesidesMe.
"Listento Me, O houseof Jacob,And allthe remnantof the houseof Israel,You who have been borneby Me from birthAnd have been carriedfrom the womb;
Even to [your] oldageI will be the same,And evento [your] grayingyearsI will bear[you]! I have done[it], and I will carry[you]; And I will bear[you] and I will deliver[you].
Listento Me, O islands,And payattention,you peoplesfrom afar.The LORDcalledMe from the womb;From the bodyof My motherHe namedMe.
"Listento me, you who pursuerighteousness,Who seekthe LORD:Lookto the rockfrom which you were hewnAnd to the quarryfrom which you were dug.
"Payattentionto Me, O My people,And giveearto Me, O My nation;For a lawwill goforthfrom Me, And I will setMy justicefor a lightof the peoples.
"Listento Me, you who knowrighteousness,A peoplein whose heartis My law;Do not fearthe reproachof man,Norbe dismayedat their revilings.
"Inclineyour earand cometo Me. Listen,that you may live;And I will makean everlastingcovenantwith you, [According to] the faithfulmerciesshown to David.
"Sothe lastshall be first,and the firstlast."
amongwhomyou alsoare the calledof JesusChrist;
And we knowthat Godcausesall thingsto work togetherfor goodto thosewho loveGod,to thosewho are calledaccordingto [His] purpose.
but to thosewho are the called,bothJewsand Greeks,Christthe powerof Godand the wisdomof God.
Seenowthat I, I am He, And thereis nogodbesidesMe; It is I who putto deathand givelife.I have woundedand it is I who heal,And thereis noonewho can deliverfrom My hand.
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
saying,"Writein a bookwhatyou see,and send[it] to the sevenchurches:to Ephesusand to Smyrnaand to Pergamumand to Thyatiraand to Sardisand to Philadelphiaand to Laodicea."
"I amthe Alphaand the Omega,"saysthe LordGod,"who is and whowas and who is to come,the Almighty."
"Thesewill wage waragainstthe Lamb,and the Lambwill overcomethem, becauseHe is Lordof lordsand Kingof kings,and thosewhoare with Him [are the] calledand chosenand faithful."
"And to the angelof the churchin Smyrnawrite:The firstand the last,whowas dead,and has come to life,saysthis:
"I am the Alphaand the Omega,the firstand the last,the beginningand the end."
