Dual Panel1But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.
2When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
3For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt, Ethiopia, and Seba as a ransom for your freedom.
4Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
5"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you and your children from east and west
6and from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the distant corners of the earth.
7All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them."
8Bring out the people who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.
9Gather the nations together! Which of their idols has ever foretold such things? Can any of them predict something even a single day in advance? Where are the witnesses of such predictions? Who can verify that they spoke the truth?
10"But you are my witnesses, O Israel!" says the LORD. "And you are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God; there never has been and never will be.
11I am the LORD, and there is no other Savior.
12First I predicted your deliverance; I declared what I would do, and then I did it––I saved you. No foreign god has ever done this before. You are witnesses that I am the only God," says the LORD.
13"From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can oppose what I do. No one can reverse my actions."
14The LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: "For your sakes I will send an invading army against Babylon. And the Babylonians will be forced to flee in those ships they are so proud of.
15I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator and King.
16I am the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea.
17I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.
18"But forget all that––it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19For I am about to do a brand–new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!
20The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and ostriches, too, for giving them water in the wilderness. Yes, I will make springs in the desert, so that my chosen people can be refreshed.
21I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.
22"But, my dear people, you refuse to ask for my help. You have grown tired of me!
23You have not brought me lambs for burnt offerings. You have not honored me with sacrifices, though I have not burdened and wearied you with my requests for grain offerings and incense.
24You have not brought me fragrant incense or pleased me with the fat from sacrifices. Instead, you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your faults.
25"I––yes, I alone––am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.
26Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case if you have one.
27From the very beginning, your ancestors sinned against me––all your leaders broke my laws.
28That is why I have disgraced your priests and assigned Israel a future of complete destruction and shame.