Isaiah 44 - Hebrew Names version (HNV)

¹ Yet listen now, Ya`akov my servant, and Yisra'el, whom I have chosen.

² This is what the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: *Don't be afraid, Ya`akov my servant; and you, Yeshurun, whom I have chosen.

³ For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring:

⁴ and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.

⁵ One will say, 'I am the LORD's;' and another will be called by the name of Ya`akov; and another will write with his hand 'to the LORD,' and honor the name of Yisra'el.*

⁶ This is what the LORD, the King of Yisra'el, and his Redeemer, the LORD of Armies, says: *I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.

⁷ Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.

⁸ Don't fear, neither be afraid. Haven't I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don't know any other Rock.*

⁹ Everyone who makes an engraved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don't see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.

¹⁰ Who has fashioned a god, or molds an image that is profitable for nothing?

¹¹ Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together.

¹² The blacksmith [makes] an axe, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm: yes, he is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint.

¹³ The carpenter stretches out a line; he marks it out with a pencil; he shapes it with planes, and he marks it out with the compasses, and shapes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.

¹⁴ He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest: he plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it.

¹⁵ Then shall it be for a man to burn; and he takes of it, and warms himself; yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread: yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it an engraved image, and falls down to it.

¹⁶ He burns part of it in the fire; with part of it he eats flesh; he roasts roast, and is satisfied; yes, he warms himself, and says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire.

¹⁷ The residue of it he makes a god, even his engraved image; he falls down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, Deliver me; for you are my god.

¹⁸ They don't know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they can't see; and their hearts, that they can't understand.

¹⁹ None calls to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yes, also I have baked bread on the coals of it; I have roasted flesh and eaten it: and shall I make the residue of it an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

²⁰ He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can't deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?

²¹ Remember these things, Ya`akov, and Yisra'el; for you are my servant: I have formed you; you are my servant: Yisra'el, you shall not be forgotten by me.

²² I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to me; for I have redeemed you.

²³ Sing, you heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD has redeemed Ya`akov, and will glorify himself in Yisra'el.

²⁴ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: I am the LORD, who makes all things; who stretches forth the heavens alone; who spreads abroad the earth (who is with me?);

²⁵ who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;

²⁶ who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Yerushalayim, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Yehudah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places of it;

²⁷ who says to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers;

²⁸ Who says of Koresh, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Yerushalayim, She shall be built; and of the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.