the Fourth Week of Advent
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J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Isaiah 44
1 Now, then - hear, O Jacob, my Servant, - and Israel whom I have chosen:2 Thus, saith Yahweh - Who made thee and formed thee from birth, Who helpeth thee: Do not fear O my Servant Jacob, and Jeshurun whom I have chosen;3 For I will pour, Water upon the thirsty soil, and Floods upon the dry ground, - I will pour My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring;4 So will they spring up among the grass, As willows by the water-courses:5 This one, will say Yahweh's, am I, and That one, will call himself by the name of Jacob, and Yonder one will write on his hand - Yahweh's, And after the name of Israel, will one entitle himself.6 Thus saith Yahweh - King of Israel, Even his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts, - I, am, First, and, I, Last, And besides me, there is no God.7 Who then, like me, can call, and declare it, and order it, for me, Seeing that I appointed an age-abiding people, - Or things yet to be, and that shall come to pass, Let them declare on their part.8 Do not ye dread, nor yet be alarmed, Have I not from olden time, told thee and declared? So that, ye, are my witnesses, - Whether there is a GOD besides me? Or is no Rock - I knew of none!
9 The fashioners of an image - all of them, are emptiness, And, the things they delight in, cannot profit, - And, their, witnesses, they, neither see nor know, That they may be ashamed.10 Who hath fashioned a GOD, Oran image, hath molten? It cannot profit!11 Lo! all his partners, turn pale, Even, the artificers themselves, are of the sons of earth, - Let them gather themselves together - all of them. Let them take their stand, Let them dread, and turn pale, together!12 As for the smith, with his cutting-tool, - When he hath wrought in the live coals, And, with hammers, hath fashioned it, - And hath wrought it with his strong arm, Anon he is hungry, and hath no strength, He hath drunk no water and so hath become faint!13 As for the carpenter, - He hath stretched out a line hath drawn it with a pencil, Hath made it with carving tools, With compasses, hath rounded it, - And so hath made it after the figure of a great man, After the beauty of a son of earth, that it may remain in a house!14 When one was cutting him down cedars, Then took he a holm-tree and an oak, And secured them for himself, among the trees of the forest, - He planted a fir-tree and the pouring rain made it grow;15 So it serveth for a man to burn, And he hath taken of the branches and warmed himself, Also he kindleth a fire, and baketh bread, - Also he maketh a GOD, and hath bowed himself down, Hath made of it a carved image, and adored it:16 The half thereof, hath he burned in the fire, Over half thereof, he eateth flesh, He roasteth roast, that he may be satisfied, - Also he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen a blaze;17 And the residue thereof, Into a GOD, he maketh, Into his carved image, - Adoreth it, and boweth down and prayeth unto it, And saith Deliver me, for, my GOD, thou art!18 They have not taken note, neither can they perceive, - He hath besmeared - past seeing - their eyes, Past understanding, their hearts;19 And no one reflecteth - There is neither knowledge nor discernment - to say, Half thereof, have I burned up in the fire Moreover also I have baked, on the coals thereof, breed, I roasted flesh, and have been eating, - And of the remainder thereof, an abomination, shall I make? And, to a log of wood, shall I pay adoration?20 He is feeding on ashes, A deluded heart, hath turned him aside, - And he cannot deliver his own soul nor say, Is there not a falsehood in my right hand?
21 Remember these things, O Jacob, And, Israel, - for, my Servant, thou art, - I have fashioned thee, a Servant of mine, thou art.22 O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me, I have wiped out, As with a thick cloud, thy transgressions, And as with a broad cloud, thy sins, - Return unto me, for I have redeemed thee.23 Shout in triumph ye heavens for Yahweh, hath effectually wrought. Shout, O ye underparts of the earth, Ring out, Ye mountains, into cries of triumph, Thou forest, and every tree therein, - For, Yahweh, hath redeemed, Jacob, And in Israel, will he get himself glory.24 Thus, saith Yahweh Who hath redeemed thee, Who hath fashioned thee from birth, - I - Yahweh, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens, alone, Spreading forth the earth, of myself;25 Frustrating the signs of praters, And, diviners, he confoundeth, - Turning wise men backwards, And their knowledge, he maketh folly;26 Establishing the word of his Servant, And the counsel of his Messengers, he maketh good, - Who saith of Jerusalem - She shall be inhabited! And of the cities of Judah - They shall be built! And the ruins thereof, will I set up!27 Who saith to the deep - Be dry and Thy rivers, will I drain!28 Who saith of Cyrus - My Shepherd! and All my pleasure, shall he make good Even saying of Jerusalem - She shall be built! And of the temple - Be her foundation laid!