1 But now thus says the LORD {YHWH, Redeemer}, the One who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed {gealtikha: covenant rescue} you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters {mayim: overwhelming depths}, I {YHWH, Ever-Present Helper} will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not surge over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not blaze against you.
3 For I am the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka, Covenant Defender}, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom {koferkha: redemption price}, Cush and Seba in your place.
4 Because you were precious in My {YHWH, Sovereign Evaluator} eyes, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore, I will give men in your place and peoples in exchange for your life {nephesh: life-essence}.
5 Do not fear, for I {YHWH, Faithful Presence} am with you; I will bring your offspring {zareka: family line} out of the east, and I will gather you in from the west.
6 I {YHWH, Covenant Restorer} will say to the north, “Give up!” and to the south, “Do not hold back!” Bring my sons from far and my daughters from the end of the earth {haaretz: entire inhabited world}.
7 Everyone who is called by my {YHWH, Sovereign Lord} name, whom I have created for my glory {kavod: honor}, I have formed him, yes, I have made him.
8 Bring out the people who are blind {ivver: lacking sight}, even though they have eyes, and the deaf {kheresim: lacking hearing}, even though they have ears.
9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this and make us hear the former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses {edeihem: those who testify publicly} that they may be justified {yitzdaku: found righteous}, and let them hear and say, “It is truth.”
10 You are my witnesses {edai: appointed witnesses}, declares the LORD {YHWH, Divine Testifier}, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He; before me no god was formed, and after me there will not be one.
11 I, yes I, am the LORD {YHWH, Sole Redeemer}; besides Me there is no Savior {moshia: deliverer}.
12 I have declared and I have saved and I have made it heard, and there was no foreign god among you. And you are my witnesses, declares the LORD {YHWH, Deliverer}, that I am God {El, Unique Sovereign}.
13 Even from earlier days I {YHWH, Eternal Sovereign} am He, and there is none who delivers from My hand {yad: sovereign authority}; I will act, and who can reverse it?
14 Thus says the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Redeemer}, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; “For your sake I have sent to Babylon and have brought down all of them as fugitives {barikhim: driven into flight}, even the Chaldeans in the ships of their exultant cry.”
15 I am the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Redeemer}, your Holy One {qadosh: set-apart}, the creator of Israel, your King.
16 Thus says the LORD {YHWH, Path Creator}, the One who makes a way in the sea and a path in mighty waters {mayim: deep expanse}.
17 He who brings out {hamotsi: ongoing deliverer} chariot and horse, army and warrior—they lie down together; they shall not rise; they are extinguished, as flax {kapishtah: wick imagery} they are quenched.
18 Do not keep calling the former things {rishonot: earlier events} to mind, and do not dwell on the ancient things {kadmoniyyot: ancient realities}.
19 Look, I {YHWH, Miracle Worker} am bringing about a new thing {chadashah: unprecedented work}; even now it is springing up—will you not perceive it? Yes, I will set a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild animals of the field, the jackals {tannim: desert predators} and the ostrich, will honor Me {YHWH, Provider}, because I have given water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to My people, My chosen.
21 This people I {YHWH, Creator of Israel} have formed {yatzarti: purposefully shaped} for Myself; they will declare My praise.
22 Yet you have not called upon {karata: summoned in prayer} Me {YHWH, Covenant Lord}, Jacob, but you have grown weary of Me, Israel.
23 You have not brought me {YHWH, Patient Sovereign} the sheep of your burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not made you serve with a grain offering {minchah: tribute gift}, nor wearied you with frankincense.
24 You have not bought cane with silver for Me {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, and you have not satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices; but you have made Me serve with your sins, and you have wearied Me with your iniquities {avon: guilt or depravity}.
25 I {anokhi: emphatic self-identity}, I am He who blots out {mokheh: wipes away all record} your transgressions for my sake, and I will not remember your sins.
26 Put Me{YHWH, Covenant Judge} in remembrance; let us contend together in judgment{shaphat: formal hearing}; present your case, so that you may be justified.
27 Your first father {avikha: ancestral representative} sinned, and your mediators have rebelled against Me {YHWH, Righteous Judge}.
28 And I {YHWH, Covenant Judge} profaned the leaders of the sanctuary and gave Jacob to the ban {cherem: complete destruction} and Israel to reproaches.