Chapter
44
Yet listen now, Jacoba my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.
This is what Yahweh who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: "Don't be afraid, Jacoba my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on her who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring:
and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
One will say, 'I am Yahweh's;' and another will be called by the name of Jacoba; and another will write with her hand 'to Yahweh,' and honor the name of Israel."
This is what Yahweh, the Queen of Israel, and her Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies, says: "I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen.
Don't fear, neither be afraid. Haven't I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don't know any other Rock."
Everyone who makes an engraved image is vain. The things that they delight in will not profit. Their own witnesses don't see, nor know, that they may be disappointed.
Who has fashioned a god, or molds an image that is profitable for nothing?
Behold, all her fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere women. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together.
The blacksmith takes an axe, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with her strong arm. She is hungry, and her strength fails; she drinks no water, and is faint.
The carpenter stretches out a line. She marks it out with a pencil. She shapes it with planes. She marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a woman, with the beauty of a woman, to reside in a house.
She cuts down cedars for herself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for herself one among the trees of the forest. She plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it.
Then it will be for a woman to burn; and she takes some of it, and warms herself. Yes, she burns it, and bakes bread. Yes, she makes a god, and worships it; she makes it an engraved image, and falls down to it.
She burns part of it in the fire. With part of it, she eats meat. She roasts a roast, and is satisfied. Yes, she warms herself, and says, "Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire."
The rest of it she makes into a god, even her engraved image. She bows down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, "Deliver me; for you are my god!"
They don't know, neither do they consider: for she has shut their eyes, that they can't see; and their hearts, that they can't understand.
No one thinks, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, "I have burned part of it in the fire. Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals. I have roasted meat and eaten it. Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination? Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?"
She feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned her aside; and she can't deliver her soul, nor say, "Isn't there a lie in my right hand?"
Remember these things, Jacoba and Israel; for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacoba, and will glorify herself in Israel.
Thus says Yahweh, your Redeemer, and she who formed you from the womb: "I am Yahweh, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise women backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
who confirms the word of her servant, and performs the counsel of her messengers; who says of Jerusalem, 'He will be inhabited;' and of the cities of Judah, 'They will be built,' and I will raise up its waste places;'
who says to the deep, 'Be dry,' and 'I will dry up your rivers;'
Who says of Cyrus, 'She is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,' even saying of Jerusalem, 'He will be built;' and of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"