This is what the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says,
“For your sake I have sent [one] to Babylon,
And I will bring down all of them as fugitives,
Even the Chaldeans [who reign in Babylon], into the ships over which they rejoiced.
“I am the LORD, your Holy One,
The Creator of Israel, your King.”
This is what the LORD says,
He who makes a way through the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
He who brings out the chariot and the horse,
The army and the mighty warrior,
(They will lie down together, they will not rise again;
They have been extinguished, they have been put out like a lamp’s wick):
“Do not remember the former things,
Or ponder the things of the past.
“Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even put a road in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
“The beasts of the field will honor Me,
Jackals and ostriches,
Because I have given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen. [Is 41:17, 18; 48:21]
“The people whom I formed for Myself
Will make known My praise.
¶“Yet you have not called on Me [in prayer and worship], O Jacob;
But you have grown weary of Me, O Israel.
“You have not brought Me your sheep or goats for your burnt offerings,
Nor honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings,
Nor wearied you with [demands for offerings of] incense.
“You have not bought Me sweet cane with money,
Nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
But you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have wearied Me with your wickedness.
¶“I, only I, am He who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins.
“Remind Me [of your merits with a thorough report], let us plead and argue our case together;
State your position, that you may be proved right.
“Your first father [Jacob] sinned,
And your spokesmen [the priests and the prophets—your mediators] have transgressed against Me.
“So I will profane the officials of the sanctuary,
And I will consign Jacob to destruction and [I will subject] Israel to defamation and abuse.
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