The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 44ישעיהו 44

וְעַתָּ֥ה שְׁמַ֖ע יַעֲקֹ֣ב עַבְדִּ֑י וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בָּחַ֥רְתִּי בֽוֹ

Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:

כֹּה אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֥ה עֹשֶׂ֛ךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ מִבֶּ֖טֶן יַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּ אַל תִּירָא֙ עַבְדִּ֣י יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וִישֻׁר֖וּן בָּחַ֥רְתִּי בֽוֹ

Thus says YHWH that made you, and formed you from the womb, will help you; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and you, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.

כִּ֤י אֶצָּק מַ֨יִם֙ עַל צָמֵ֔א וְנֹזְלִ֖ים עַל יַבָּשָׁ֑ה אֶצֹּ֤ק רוּחִי֙ עַל זַרְעֶ֔ךָ וּבִרְכָתִ֖י עַל צֶאֱצָאֶֽיךָ

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon your seed, and my blessing upon your offspring:

וְצָמְח֖וּ בְּבֵ֣ין חָצִ֑יר כַּעֲרָבִ֖ים עַל יִבְלֵי מָֽיִם

And they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

זֶ֤ה יֹאמַר֙ לַֽיהוָ֣ה אָ֔נִי וְזֶ֖ה יִקְרָ֣א בְשֵֽׁם יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְזֶ֗ה יִכְתֹּ֤ב יָדוֹ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וּבְשֵׁ֥ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יְכַנֶּֽה

One shall say, I YHWH's; and another shall call by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe his hand to YHWH, and surname by the name of Israel.

כֹּֽה אָמַ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה מֶֽלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְגֹאֲל֖וֹ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת אֲנִ֤י רִאשׁוֹן֙ וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲר֔וֹן וּמִבַּלְעָדַ֖י אֵ֥ין אֱלֹהִֽים

Thus says YHWH the King of Israel, and his redeemer YHWH of hosts; I the first, and I the last; and beside me no God.

וּמִֽי כָמ֣וֹנִי יִקְרָ֗א וְיַגִּידֶ֤הָ וְיַעְרְכֶ֨הָ֙ לִ֔י מִשּׂוּמִ֖י עַם עוֹלָ֑ם וְאֹתִיּ֛וֹת וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּבֹ֖אנָה יַגִּ֥ידוּ לָֽמוֹ

And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew to them.

אַֽל תִּפְחֲדוּ֙ וְאַל תִּרְה֔וּ הֲלֹ֥א מֵאָ֛ז הִשְׁמַעְתִּ֥יךָ וְהִגַּ֖דְתִּי וְאַתֶּ֣ם עֵדָ֑י הֲיֵ֤שׁ אֱל֨וֹהַּ֙ מִבַּלְעָדַ֔י וְאֵ֥ין צ֖וּר בַּל יָדָֽעְתִּי

Fear you not, neither be afraid: have not I told you from that time, and have declared ? you even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, no God; I know not .

יֹֽצְרֵי פֶ֤סֶל כֻּלָּם֙ תֹּ֔הוּ וַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖ם בַּל יוֹעִ֑ילוּ וְעֵדֵיהֶ֣ם הֵׄ֗מָּׄהׄ בַּל יִרְא֛וּ וּבַל יֵדְע֖וּ לְמַ֥עַן יֵבֹֽשׁוּ

They that make a graven image all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

מִֽי יָצַ֥ר אֵ֖ל וּפֶ֣סֶל נָסָ֑ךְ לְבִלְתִּ֖י הוֹעִֽיל

Who has formed a god, or molten a graven image is profitable for nothing?

הֵ֤ן כָּל חֲבֵרָיו֙ יֵבֹ֔שׁוּ וְחָרָשִׁ֥ים הֵ֖מָּה מֵֽאָדָ֑ם יִֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּ כֻלָּם֙ יַֽעֲמֹ֔דוּ יִפְחֲד֖וּ יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ יָֽחַד

Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; they shall fear, they shall be ashamed together.

חָרַ֤שׁ בַּרְזֶל֙ מַֽעֲצָ֔ד וּפָעַל֙ בַּפֶּחָ֔ם וּבַמַּקָּב֖וֹת יִצְּרֵ֑הוּ וַיִּפְעָלֵ֨הוּ֙ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ כֹּח֔וֹ גַּם רָעֵב֙ וְאֵ֣ין כֹּ֔חַ לֹא שָׁ֥תָה מַ֖יִם וַיִּיעָֽף

The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.

חָרַ֣שׁ עֵצִים֮ נָ֣טָה קָו֒ יְתָאֲרֵ֣הוּ בַשֶּׂ֔רֶד יַעֲשֵׂ֨הוּ֙ בַּמַּקְצֻע֔וֹת וּבַמְּחוּגָ֖ה יְתָאֳרֵ֑הוּ וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֨הוּ֙ כְּתַבְנִ֣ית אִ֔ישׁ כְּתִפְאֶ֥רֶת אָדָ֖ם לָשֶׁ֥בֶת בָּֽיִת

The carpenter stretcheth out rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

לִכְרָת ל֣וֹ אֲרָזִ֔ים וַיִּקַּ֤ח תִּרְזָה֙ וְאַלּ֔וֹן וַיְאַמֶּץ ל֖וֹ בַּעֲצֵי יָ֑עַר נָטַ֥ע אֹ֖רֶ וְגֶ֥שֶׁם יְגַדֵּֽל

He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain does nourish .

וְהָיָ֤ה לְאָדָם֙ לְבָעֵ֔ר וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵהֶם֙ וַיָּ֔חָם אַף יַשִּׂ֖יק וְאָ֣פָה לָ֑חֶם אַף יִפְעַל אֵל֙ וַיִּשְׁתָּ֔חוּ עָשָׂ֥הוּ פֶ֖סֶל וַיִּסְגָּד לָֽמוֹ

Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth , and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth ; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.

חֶצְיוֹ֙ שָׂרַ֣ף בְּמוֹ אֵ֔שׁ עַל חֶצְיוֹ֙ בָּשָׂ֣ר יֹאכֵ֔ל יִצְלֶ֥ה צָלִ֖י וְיִשְׂבָּ֑ע אַף יָחֹם֙ וְיֹאמַ֣ר הֶאָ֔ח חַמּוֹתִ֖י רָאִ֥יתִי אֽוּר

He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth , and says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

וּשְׁאֵ֣רִית֔וֹ לְאֵ֥ל עָשָׂ֖ה לְפִסְל֑וֹ יסגוד יִסְגָּד ל֤וֹ וְיִשְׁתַּ֨חוּ֙ וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל אֵלָ֔יו וְיֹאמַר֙ הַצִּילֵ֔נִי כִּ֥י אֵלִ֖י אָֽתָּה

And the residue thereof he maketh a god, his graven image: he falleth down to it, and worshippeth , and prayeth to it, and says, Deliver me; for you my god.

לֹ֥א יָדְע֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יָבִ֑ינוּ כִּ֣י טַ֤ח מֵֽרְאוֹת֙ עֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם מֵהַשְׂכִּ֖יל לִבֹּתָֽם

They have not known nor understood: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; their hearts, that they cannot understand.

וְלֹא יָשִׁ֣יב אֶל לִבּ֗וֹ וְלֹ֨א דַ֥עַת וְלֹֽא תְבוּנָה֮ לֵאמֹר֒ חֶצְי֞וֹ שָׂרַ֣פְתִּי בְמוֹ אֵ֗שׁ וְ֠אַף אָפִ֤יתִי עַל גֶּחָלָיו֙ לֶ֔חֶם אֶצְלֶ֥ה בָשָׂ֖ר וְאֹכֵ֑ל וְיִתְרוֹ֙ לְתוֹעֵבָ֣ה אֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה לְב֥וּל עֵ֖ץ אֶסְגּֽוֹד

And none considereth in his heart, neither knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten : and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?

רֹעֶ֣ה אֵ֔פֶר לֵ֥ב הוּתַ֖ל הִטָּ֑הוּ וְלֹֽא יַצִּ֤יל אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ֙ וְלֹ֣א יֹאמַ֔ר הֲל֥וֹא שֶׁ֖קֶר בִּימִינִֽי

He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, not a lie in my right hand?

זְכָר אֵ֣לֶּה יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כִּ֣י עַבְדִּי אָ֑תָּה יְצַרְתִּ֤יךָ עֶֽבֶד לִי֙ אַ֔תָּה יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֹ֥א תִנָּשֵֽׁנִי

Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you my servant: I have formed you; you my servant: O Israel, you shall not be forgotten of me.

מָחִ֤יתִי כָעָב֙ פְּשָׁעֶ֔יךָ וְכֶעָנָ֖ן חַטֹּאותֶ֑יךָ שׁוּבָ֥ה אֵלַ֖י כִּ֥י גְאַלְתִּֽיךָ

I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to me; for I have redeemed you.

רָנּ֨וּ שָׁמַ֜יִם כִּֽי עָשָׂ֣ה יְהוָ֗ה הָרִ֨יעוּ֙ תַּחְתִּיּ֣וֹת אָ֔רֶץ פִּצְח֤וּ הָרִים֙ רִנָּ֔ה יַ֖עַר וְכָל עֵ֣ץ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי גָאַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִתְפָּאָֽר

Sing, O you heavens; for YHWH has done : shout, you lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for YHWH has redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

כֹּֽה אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ גֹּאֲלֶ֔ךָ וְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ מִבָּ֑טֶן אָנֹכִ֤י יְהוָה֙ עֹ֣שֶׂה כֹּ֔ל נֹטֶ֤ה שָׁמַ֨יִם֙ לְבַדִּ֔י רֹקַ֥ע הָאָ֖רֶץ מי אתי מֵאִתִּֽי

Thus says YHWH, your redeemer, and he that formed you from the womb, I YHWH that maketh all ; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

מֵפֵר֙ אֹת֣וֹת בַּדִּ֔ים וְקֹסְמִ֖ים יְהוֹלֵ֑ל מֵשִׁ֧יב חֲכָמִ֛ים אָח֖וֹר וְדַעְתָּ֥ם יְשַׂכֵּֽל

That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

מֵקִים֙ דְּבַ֣ר עַבְדּ֔וֹ וַעֲצַ֥ת מַלְאָכָ֖יו יַשְׁלִ֑ים הָאֹמֵ֨ר לִירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם תּוּשָׁ֗ב וּלְעָרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ תִּבָּנֶ֔ינָה וְחָרְבוֹתֶ֖יהָ אֲקוֹמֵֽם

That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that says to Jerusalem, You shall be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

הָאֹמֵ֥ר לַצּוּלָ֖ה חֳרָ֑בִי וְנַהֲרֹתַ֖יִךְ אוֹבִֽישׁ

That says to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers:

הָאֹמֵ֤ר לְכ֨וֹרֶשׁ֙ רֹעִ֔י וְכָל חֶפְצִ֖י יַשְׁלִ֑ם וְלֵאמֹ֤ר לִירוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ תִּבָּנֶ֔ה וְהֵיכָ֖ל תִּוָּסֵֽד

That says of Cyrus, my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, You shall be built; and to the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.