Isa 43 | HCSB | STEP | Now this is what the Lord says – the One who created you, Jacob , and the One who formed you, Israel – “Do not fear , for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name ; you are Mine.

‏ Isaiah 43

Restoration of Israel

1 Now this is what the Lord says –
the One who created you, Jacob,
and the One who formed you, Israel ^a –
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; ^b
I have called you by your name; you are Mine. ^c
2 I will be with you ^d
when you pass through the waters, ^e
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire, ^f
and the flame will not burn you.
3 For I ^{▼▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.}Yahweh your God, ^h
the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior, ⁱ
give Egypt as a ransom for you,
^{▼▼Cush/ Cushite: The lands of the Nile in southern Egypt, including Nubia and Northern Sudan; the people who lived in that region}Cush and Seba in your place.
4 Because you are precious in My sight ^k
and honored, and I love you, ^l
I will give people in exchange for you
and nations instead of your life.
5 Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east, ^m
and gather you from the west. ⁿ
6 I will say to the north: Give them up!
and to the south: Do not hold them back!
Bring My sons from far away, ^o
and My daughters from the ends of the earth ^p –
7 everyone called by My name
and created for My glory.
I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.”

8 Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes, ^q
and are deaf, yet have ears.
9 All the nations are gathered together,
and the peoples are assembled. ^r
Who among them can declare this, ^s
and tell us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses
to vindicate themselves,
so that people may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are My witnesses” ^t –
this is the Lord’s declaration –

“and My servant whom I have chosen, ^u
so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He. ^v
No god was formed before Me,
and there will be none after Me. ^w
11 I, I am Yahweh,
and there is no other Savior but Me. ^x
12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed –
and not some foreign god ^{▼▼Lit not a foreigner} among you.
So you are My witnesses” –
this is the Lord’s declaration –

“and ^{▼▼Or that} I am God. ^aa
13 Also, from today on I am He alone,
and none can deliver from My hand. ^ab
I act, and who can reverse it?” ^ac

God’s Deliverance of Rebellious Israel

14 This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, ^ad the Holy One of Israel ^ae says:

Because of you, I will send to Babylon
and bring all of them as fugitives, ^{▼▼Or will break down all their bars}
even the Chaldeans ^ag in the ships in which they rejoice. ^{▼▼Hb obscure}
15 I am Yahweh, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.

16 This is what the Lord says –
who makes a way in the sea,
and a path through surging waters, ^ai
17 who brings out the chariot and horse, ^aj
the army and the mighty one together
(they lie down, they do not rise again;
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick ^ak) –
18 “Do not remember the past events,
pay no attention to things of old. ^al
19 Look, I am about to do something new; ^am
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, ^an
rivers ^{▼▼DSS read paths} in the desert.
20 The animals of the field will honor Me,
jackals and ostriches,
because I provide water in the wilderness,
and rivers in the desert, ^ap
to give drink to My chosen people.
21 The people I formed for Myself
will declare My praise. ^aq

22 “But Jacob, you have not called on Me,
because, Israel, you have become weary of Me. ^ar
23 You have not brought Me your sheep for ^{▼▼burnt offering(s): Or holocaust, an offering completely burned to ashes; it was used in connection with worship, seeking God's favor, expiating sin, or averting judgment.}burnt offerings
or honored Me with your sacrifices. ^at
I have not burdened you with offerings
or wearied you with incense. ^{▼▼With demands for offerings and incense}
24 You have not bought Me aromatic cane with silver,
or satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened Me with your sins;
you have wearied Me ^av with your iniquities. ^aw

25 “It is I who sweep away your transgressions ^ax
for My own sake ^ay
and remember your sins no more. ^az
26 Take Me to court; let us argue our case together. ^ba
State your case, so that you may be vindicated.
27 Your first father sinned, ^bb
and your mediators have rebelled against Me. ^bc
28 So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary,
and ^{▼▼set apart for destruction/ completely destroy: In Canaan or its neighboring countries, this was the destruction during war of a city, its inhabitants, and their possessions, including livestock.}set Jacob apart for destruction ^be
and Israel for abuse.