以色列蒙拣选
1“我的仆人雅各，
我所拣选的以色列啊，
现在你要留心听。
2造你、使你在母胎中成形、
帮助你的耶和华说，
‘我的仆人雅各，
我所拣选的耶书仑44:2 “耶书仑”是以色列的昵称。啊，
不要害怕。
3我要用水浇灌干渴之地，
使河流滋润干旱之土。
我要用我的灵浇灌你的后裔，
使我的福泽临到你的子孙。
4他们要滋长如青草，
又如溪旁杨柳。’
5这个说，‘我属于耶和华’，
那个说，‘我是雅各的子孙’，
还有人手上写着，‘耶和华之民’，
称自己属于以色列。
6“耶和华，以色列的君王和救赎主，
万军之耶和华说，
‘我是首先的，我是末后的，
除我以外再没有真神。
7谁能与我相比？让他告诉我。
自从我设立这古老的民族以来所发生的事和将要发生的事，
让他告诉我。
8不要恐惧，不要害怕，
我不是早已告诉过你们吗？
你们是我的证人。
除我以外还有真神吗？
没有，没有别的磐石，
一个也没有。’”
9制造偶像的真是无用，他们珍爱的偶像毫无价值。拜神像的人目盲眼瞎，愚昧无知，自找羞辱。 10制造神像、雕刻无益偶像的是谁？ 11看啊，制造神像的工匠不过是人，他们必羞愧。让他们一起来对质吧，他们必恐惧、羞愧。 12铁匠把铁块放在炭火里烧，用他强壮的臂膀挥动铁锤把它打成偶像。他饥饿时就会无力，口渴时就会疲乏。 13木匠拉线测量木料，用笔勾出形状，用圆规画出模样，仿照人的样子用凿子做成逼真的神像，放在庙宇里。 14他砍伐香柏木，或从林中选取柏木和橡木。他栽种松树，雨水使它长大。 15这树可以用来作燃料，他取一些木料生火取暖、烤饼，又制成神像来祭拜，雕成偶像来叩拜。 16他用一半木头烤肉，饱餐一顿，并用火取暖，说：“啊！我这里有火，真暖和。” 17他用另一半木头造了一个神，一个偶像，向它俯伏叩拜、祷告说：“你是我的神明，求你拯救我。” 18他们愚昧无知，因为眼睛被封住以致看不见，心窍被塞住以致不明白。 19他们无人思想，无人明白，无人醒悟说：“我用一半木头当柴烤饼、烤肉吃，我岂能用另一半木头造可憎的神像？我岂能向一块木头叩拜？” 20他们以灰为食，心智迷糊，走入歧途，不能自救，也不会说：“我右手拿的神像不是假的吗？”
耶和华救赎以色列
21“雅各啊，以色列啊，
要记住这些事，
因为你是我的仆人。
我造了你，你是我的仆人；
以色列啊，我不会忘记你。
22我除去了你的过犯和罪恶，
使它们如云雾消散。
归向我吧，因为我救赎了你。”
23诸天啊，歌唱吧！
因为耶和华成就了这事。
地的深处啊，欢呼吧！
众山岭和林中的树木啊，
你们都要歌唱！
因为耶和华救赎了雅各，
在以色列彰显了祂的荣耀。
24在母腹中造你、救赎你的耶和华说：
“我是创造万物的耶和华，
我独自铺展穹苍，开辟大地。
25我使假先知的预兆无法应验，
使占卜者丑态百出；
我颠覆智者的知识，
使之愚不可及。
26我使我仆人的话应验，
使我使者的计划成就。
我说耶路撒冷必有人居住，
我说犹大的城邑必重建起来，
从废墟中重建起来。
27我对深海说，‘枯干吧！
我要使你的河流干涸’；
28我说塞鲁士是我的牧人，
他必完成我的旨意，
他会下令重建耶路撒冷，
降旨奠定圣殿的根基。
1Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: 2Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 3For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. 5One shall say, I am the LORD’s; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 8Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.44.8 God; I: Heb. rock, etc
9¶ They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.44.9 delectable: Heb. desirable 10Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? 11Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. 12The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.44.12 with the tongs: or, with an axe 13The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. 14He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.44.14 strengtheneth: or, taketh courage 15Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. 16He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: 17And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. 18They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.44.18 shut: Heb. daubed 19And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?44.19 considereth…: Heb. setteth to his heart44.19 the stock…: Heb. that which comes of a tree? 20He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
21¶ Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. 22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. 23Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. 24Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; 25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; 26That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:44.26 decayed…: Heb. wastes 27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers: 28That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
