Yesaya 41:4

41:4 Who acts and carries out decrees? ¹ 

Who ²  summons the successive generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord, am present at the very beginning,

and at the very end – I am the one. ³ 

Yesaya 43:10

43:10 You are my witnesses,” says the Lord,

“my servant whom I have chosen,

so that you may consider ⁴  and believe in me,

and understand that I am he.

No god was formed before me,

and none will outlive me. ⁵ 

Yesaya 44:7

44:7 Who is like me? Let him make his claim! ⁶ 

Let him announce it and explain it to me –

since I established an ancient people – ⁷ 

let them announce future events! ⁸ 

Yesaya 46:4

46:4 Even when you are old, I will take care of you, ⁹ 

even when you have gray hair, I will carry you.

I made you and I will support you;

I will carry you and rescue you. ¹⁰ 

Yesaya 48:12

48:12 Listen to me, O Jacob,

Israel, whom I summoned!

I am the one;

I am present at the very beginning

and at the very end. ¹¹ 

[41:4]  ¹ tn Heb “Who acts and accomplishes?”; NASB “Who has performed and accomplished it.”

[41:4]  ² tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[41:4]  ³ tn Heb “I, the Lord, [am with] the first, and with the last ones I [am] he.”

[43:10]  ⁴ tn Or “know” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[43:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “and after me, there will not be”; NASB “there will be none after Me.”

[44:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “let him call” or “let him proclaim” (so NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “Let him stand up and speak.”

[44:7]  ⁷ tc The Hebrew text reads, “from (the time) I established an ancient people, and the coming things.” Various emendations have been proposed. One of the options assumes the reading מַשְׁמִיעִים מֵעוֹלָם אוֹתִיּוֹת (mashmi’im me’olam ’otiyyot); This literally reads “the ones causing to hear from antiquity coming things,” but more idiomatically would read “as for those who predict from antiquity what will happen” (cf. NAB, NEB, REB). The emendation directs the attention of the reader to those who claim to be able to predict the future, challenging them to actually do what they claim they can do. The MT presents Yahweh as an example to whom these alleged “predictors of the future” can compare themselves. Since the ancient versions are unanimous in their support of the MT, the emendations should be set aside.

[44:7]  ⁸ tn Heb and those things which are coming let them declare for themselves.”

[46:4]  ⁹ tn Heb “until old age, I am he” (NRSV similar); NLT “I will be your God throughout your lifetime.”

[46:4]  ¹⁰ sn Unlike the weary idol gods, whose images must be carried by animals, the Lord carries his weary people.

[48:12]  ¹¹ tn Heb “I [am] he, I [am the] first, also I [am the] last.”