43:13 From this day forward I am he;
no one can deliver from my power; 1
I will act, and who can prevent it?”
43:14 This is what the Lord says,
your protector, 2 the Holy One of Israel: 3
“For your sake I send to Babylon
and make them all fugitives, 4
turning the Babylonians’ joyful shouts into mourning songs. 5
43:15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, 6
the one who created Israel, your king.”
43:16 This is what the Lord says,
the one who made a road through the sea,
a pathway through the surging waters,
43:17 the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, 7
together with a mighty army.
They fell down, 8 never to rise again;
they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:
43:18 “Don’t remember these earlier events; 9
don’t recall these former events.
43:19 “Look, I am about to do something new.
Now it begins to happen! 10 Do you not recognize 11 it?
Yes, I will make a road in the desert
and paths 12 in the wilderness.
43:20 The wild animals of the desert honor me,
the jackals and ostriches,
because I put water in the desert
and streams in the wilderness,
to quench the thirst of my chosen people,
43:21 the people whom I formed for myself,
so they might praise me.” 13
43:22 “But you did not call for me, O Jacob;
you did not long 14 for me, O Israel.
43:23 You did not bring me lambs for your burnt offerings;
you did not honor me with your sacrifices.
I did not burden you with offerings;
I did not make you weary by demanding 15 incense.
43:24 You did not buy me aromatic reeds; 16
you did not present to me 17 the fat of your sacrifices.
Yet you burdened me with your sins;
you made me weary with your evil deeds. 18
43:25 I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake;
your sins I do not remember.
43:26 Remind me of what happened! Let’s debate!
You, prove to me that you are right! 19
43:27 The father of your nation 20 sinned;
your spokesmen 21 rebelled against me.
43:28 So I defiled your holy princes,
and handed Jacob over to destruction,
and subjected 22 Israel to humiliating abuse.”