20 The animals of the field will glorify Me,
The (A)jackals and the ostriches,
Because I have (B)given waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My chosen people.
21 The people whom (C)I formed for Myself
(D)Will declare My praise.

The Shortcomings of Israel

22 “Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;
But you have become (E)weary of Me, Israel.
23 You have (F)not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,
Nor have you (G)honored Me with your sacrifices.
I have not (H)burdened you with [a]offerings,
Nor wearied you with (I)incense.
24 You have not bought Me [b](J)sweet cane with money,
Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;
Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins,
You have (K)wearied Me with your wrongdoings.

25 “I, I alone, am the one who (L)wipes out your wrongdoings (M)for My own sake,
And I will (N)not remember your sins.
26 [c]Meet Me in court, (O)let’s argue our case together;
State your cause, (P)so that you may be proved right.
27 Your (Q)first [d]forefather sinned,
And your [e](R)spokesmen have rebelled against Me.
28 So I will profane the [f]officials of the sanctuary,
And I will turn Jacob over to (S)destruction and Israel to (T)abuse.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:23 Or a meal offering
  2. Isaiah 43:24 Or calamus
  3. Isaiah 43:26 Or Report to Me
  4. Isaiah 43:27 Lit father
  5. Isaiah 43:27 Or interpreters
  6. Isaiah 43:28 Or holy princes

20 The wild animals(A) honor me,
    the jackals(B) and the owls,
because I provide water(C) in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21     the people I formed(D) for myself(E)
    that they may proclaim my praise.(F)

22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied(G) yourselves for[a] me, Israel.(H)
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,(I)
    nor honored(J) me with your sacrifices.(K)
I have not burdened(L) you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands(M) for incense.(N)
24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus(O) for me,
    or lavished on me the fat(P) of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied(Q) me with your offenses.(R)

25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions,(S) for my own sake,(T)
    and remembers your sins(U) no more.(V)
26 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;(W)
    state the case(X) for your innocence.
27 Your first father(Y) sinned;
    those I sent to teach(Z) you rebelled(AA) against me.
28 So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction[b](AB)
    and Israel to scorn.(AC)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 43:22 Or Jacob; / surely you have grown weary of
  2. Isaiah 43:28 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.

15 (A)Yet the Lord set His affection on your fathers, to love them, and He chose their [a]descendants after them, you over all the other peoples, as it is this day.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 10:15 Lit seed

15 Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved(A) them, and he chose you,(B) their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today.(C)

Read full chapter