Through the Bible – Day 283

₁Here is my servant!

I have made him strong.

He is my chosen one;

I am pleased with him.

I have given him my Spirit,

and he will bring justice

to the nations.

₂He won't shout or yell

or call out in the streets.

₃He won't break off a bent reed

or put out a dying flame,

but he will make sure

that justice is done.

₄He won't stop or give up

until he brings justice

everywhere on earth,

and people in foreign nations

long for his teaching.

₅I am the LORD God.

I created the heavens

like an open tent above.

I made the earth and everything

that grows on it.

I am the source of life

for all who live on this earth,

so listen to what I say.

₆I chose you to bring justice,

and I am here at your side.

I selected and sent you

to bring light

and my promise of hope

to the nations.

₇You will give sight

to the blind;

you will set prisoners free

from dark dungeons.

₈My name is the LORD!

I won't let idols or humans

share my glory and praise.

₉Everything has happened

just as I said it would;

now I will announce

what will happen next.

₁₀Tell the whole world to sing

a new song to the LORD!

Tell those who sail the ocean

and those who live far away

to join in the praise.

₁₁Tell the tribes of the desert

and everyone in the mountains

to celebrate and sing.

₁₂Let them announce

his praises everywhere.

₁₃The LORD is marching out

like an angry soldier,

shouting with all his might

while attacking his enemies.

₁₄For a long time, I, the LORD,

have held my temper;

now I will scream and groan

like a woman giving birth.

₁₅I will destroy the mountains

and what grows on them;

I will dry up rivers and ponds.

₁₆I will lead the blind on roads

they have never known;

I will guide them on paths

they have never travelled.

Their road is dark and rough,

but I will give light

to keep them from stumbling.

This is my solemn promise.

₁₇Everyone who worships idols

as though they were gods

will be terribly ashamed.

₁₈You people are deaf and blind,

but the LORD commands you

to listen and to see.

₁₉No one is as blind or deaf

as his messenger,

his chosen servant,

₂₀who sees and hears so much,

but pays no attention.

₂₁The LORD always does right,

and so he wanted his Law

to be greatly praised.

₂₂But his people were trapped

and imprisoned in holes

with no one to rescue them.

All they owned had been taken,

and no one was willing

to give it back.

₂₃Why won't his people

ever learn to listen?

₂₄Israel sinned and refused

to obey the LORD

or follow his instructions.

So the LORD let them be robbed

of everything they owned.

₂₅He was furious with them

and punished their nation

with the fires of war.

Still they paid no attention.

They didn't even care

when they were surrounded

and scorched by flames.

₁Descendants of Jacob,

I, the LORD, created you

and formed your nation.

Israel, don't be afraid.

I have rescued you.

I have called you by name;

now you belong to me.

₂When you cross deep rivers,

I will be with you,

and you won't drown.

When you walk through fire,

you won't be burnt

or scorched by the flames.

₃I am the LORD, your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

the God who saves you.

I gave up Egypt, Ethiopia,

and the region of Seba

in exchange for you.

₄To me, you are very dear,

and I love you.

That's why I gave up nations

and people to rescue you.

₅Don't be afraid! I am with you.

From both east and west

I will bring you together.

₆I will say to the north

and to the south,

“Free my sons and daughters!

Let them return

from distant lands.

₇They are my people—

I created each of them

to bring honour to me.”

₈Bring my people together.

They have eyes and ears,

but they can't see or hear.

₉Tell everyone of every nation

to gather around.

None of them can honestly say,

“We told you so!”

If someone heard them say this,

then tell us about it now.

₁₀My people, you are my witnesses

and my chosen servant.

I want you to know me,

to trust me, and understand

that I alone am God.

I have always been God;

there can be no others.

₁₁I alone am the LORD;

only I can rescue you.

₁₂I promised to save you,

and I kept my promise.

You are my witnesses

that no other god did this.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₁₃I am God now and for ever.

No one can snatch you from me

or stand in my way.

₁₄I, the LORD, will rescue you!

I am Israel's holy God,

and this is my promise:

For your sake, I will send

an army against Babylon

to drag its people away,

crying as they go.

₁₅I am the LORD, your holy God,

Israel's Creator and King.

₁₆I am the one who cut a path

through the mighty ocean.

₁₇I sent an army to chase you

with chariots and horses;

now they lie dead,

unable to move.

They are like an oil lamp

with the flame snuffed out.

₁₈Forget what happened long ago!

Don't think about the past.

₁₉I am creating something new.

There it is! Do you see it?

I have put roads in deserts,

streams in thirsty lands.

₂₀Every wild animal honours me,

even jackals and owls.

I provide water in deserts—

streams in thirsty lands

for my chosen people.

₂₁I made them my own nation,

so they would praise me.

₂₂I, the LORD, said to Israel:

You have become weary,

but not from worshipping me.

₂₃You have not honoured me

by sacrificing sheep

or other animals.

And I have not burdened you

with demands for sacrifices

or sweet-smelling incense.

₂₄You have not brought

delicious spices for me

or given me the best part

of your sacrificed animals.

Instead, you burden me down

with your terrible sins.

₂₅But I wipe away your sins

because of who I am.

And so, I will forget

the wrongs you have done.

₂₆Meet me in court!

State your case and prove

that you are right.

₂₇Your earliest ancestor

and all your leaders

rebelled against me.

₂₈That's why I don't allow

your priests to serve me;

I let Israel be destroyed

and your people disgraced.