Isaiah 44

But now listen to me, Jacob, my servant, Israel, my
Chosen one. The Lord who made you and helps you says
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O dear Israel, my chosen
One. For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to
Irrigate your parched fields; and I will pour out my Spirit
On your descendants and my blessing on your children. They
Will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank
Some will proudly claim, "I belong to the Lord." Others will say
"I am a descendant of Jacob." Some will write the Lord's name
On their hands and will take the name of Israel as their own

The Foolishness of Idols

This is what the Lord says, Israel's King
And Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven's Armies

I am the First and the Last. There is no other God. Who is like
Me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him
Do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people
And explained its future. Do not tremble; do not be afraid

Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses!
Is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock, not one!
How foolish are those who manufacture idols! These prized
Objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don'
T know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool
Would make his own god, an idol that cannot help him one bit?
All who worship idols will be disgraced, along with all these
Craftsmen, mere humans, who claim they can make a god. They
May all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame

The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool
Pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work
Makes him hungry and weak; it makes him thirsty and faint

Then the woodcarver measures a block of wood and draws a pattern
On it. He works with chisel and plane and carves it into a human
Figure. He gives it human beauty and puts it in a little shrine

He cuts down cedars. He selects the cypress and the oak. He plants
The pine in the forest to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part
Of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his
Bread. Then yes, it's true, he takes the rest of it and makes himself
A god to worship. He makes an idol and bows down in front of it

He burns part of the tree to roast his meat and to keep
Himself warm. He says, "Ah, that fire feels good!" Then he
Takes what's left and makes his god, a carved idol. He falls
Down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. "Rescue me
" He says, "you are my god!" Such stupidity and ignorance!

Their eyes are closed and they cannot see. Their minds are shut
And they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to
Reflect, "Why, it's just a block of wood! I burned half of it for
Heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the
Rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?"

The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something
That can't help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself
To ask, "Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?"

Restoration for Jerusalem
Pay attention, O Jacob! For you are my servant, O Israel! I, the
Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your
Sins like a cloud; I have scattered your offenses like the morning
Mist. O return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free
Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous
Thing! Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into
Song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the
Lord has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel

This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer and Creator

I am the Lord who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens
Who was with me when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets
As liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to
Give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools. But I carry out
The predictions of my prophets. By them I say to Jerusalem, "
People will live here again," and to the towns of Judah, "You will
Be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins." When I speak to the
Rivers and say, "Dry up," they will be dry. When I say of Cyrus
"He is my shepherd," he will certainly do as I say. He will
Command, "Rebuild Jerusalem." He will say, "Restore the Temple."