The Lord's Promise to Israel
1 People of Israel,
I have chosen you
as my servant.
2 I am your Creator.
You were in my care
even before you were born.
Israel, don't be terrified!
You are my chosen servant,
my very favorite.
3 I will bless the thirsty land
by sending streams of water;
I will bless your descendants
by giving them my Spirit.
4 They will spring up like grass
or like willow trees
near flowing streams.
5 They will worship me
and become my people.
They will write my name
on the back of their hands.
6 I am the Lord All-Powerful,
the first and the last,
the one and only God.
Israel, I have rescued you!
I am your King.
7 Can anyone compare with me?
If so, let them speak up
and tell me now.
Let them say what has happened
since I made my nation
long ago,
and let them tell
what is going to happen.
8 Don't tremble with fear!
Didn't I tell you long ago?
Didn't you hear me?
I alone am God—
no one else is a mighty rock.
Idols Can't Do a Thing
The Lord said:
9 Those people who make idols
are nothing themselves,
and the idols they treasure
are just as worthless.
Worshipers of idols are blind,
stupid, and foolish.
10 Why make an idol or an image
that can't do a thing?
11 Everyone who makes idols
and all who worship them
are mere humans,
who will end up
sadly disappointed.
Let them face me in court
and be terrified.
Idols and Firewood
12 A metalworker shapes an idol
by using a hammer
and heat from the fire.
In his powerful hand
he holds a hammer,
as he pounds the metal
into the proper shape.
But he gets hungry and thirsty
and loses his strength.
13 Some woodcarver measures
a piece of wood,
then draws an outline.
The idol is carefully carved
with each detail exact.
At last it looks like a person
and is placed in a temple.
14 Either cedar, cypress, oak,
or any tree from the forest
may be chosen.
Or even a pine tree planted
by the woodcarver
and watered by the rain.
15 Some of the wood is used
to make a fire for heating
or for cooking.
One piece is made into an idol,
then the woodcarver bows down
and worships it.
16 He enjoys the warm fire
and the meat that was roasted
over the burning coals.
17 Afterwards, he bows down
to worship the wooden idol.
“Protect me!” he says.
“You are my god.”
18 Those who worship idols are stupid and blind! 19 They don't have enough sense to say to themselves, “I made a fire with half of the wood and cooked my bread and meat on it. Then I made something worthless with the other half. Why worship a block of wood?”
20 How can anyone be stupid enough to trust something that can be burned to ashes? No one can save themselves like that. Don't they realize that the idols they hold in their hands are not really gods?
The Lord Won't Forget His People
21 People of Israel,
you are my servant,
so remember all of this.
Israel, I created you,
and you are my servant.
I won't forget you.
22 Turn back to me!
I have rescued you
and swept away your sins
as though they were clouds.
Sing Praises to the Lord
23 Tell the heavens and the earth
to start singing!
Tell the mountains
and every tree in the forest
to join in the song!
The Lord has rescued his people;
now they will worship him.
The Lord Created Everything
24 Israel, I am your Lord,
the source of your life,
and I have rescued you.
I created everything
from the sky above
to the earth below.
25 I make liars of false prophets
and fools of fortunetellers.
I take human wisdom
and turn it into nonsense.
26 I will make the message
of my prophets come true.
They are saying, “Jerusalem
will be filled with people,
and the Lord will rebuild
the towns of Judah.”
27 I am the one who commands
the sea and its streams
to run dry.
28 I am also the one who says,
“Cyrus will lead my people
and obey my orders.
Jerusalem and the temple
will be rebuilt.”
Dieva svētība Israēlam
1 Tagad klausies Jēkab, mans kalps,
un Israēl, mans izredzētais,
2 tā saka Kungs, tavs Radītājs,
kas tevi no mātes klēpja veidojis,
viņš tev palīdzējis:
nebīsties, mans kalps Jēkab,
Ješurūn, mans izredzētais!
3 Kā es izleju ūdeni pār sausu zemi
un straumes pār kalšņu,
tāpat es izliešu savu Garu pār taviem pēcnācējiem
un savu svētību pār tiem, kas celsies no tevis,
4 tie sadīgs kā zāle,
kā vītoli pie ūdens straumēm,
5 viens sacīs: es Kungam!
otrs sauksies: Jēkaba vārdā!
cits ar savu roku rakstīs: Kungam! –
un nēsās Israēla vārdu.
6 Tā saka Kungs, Israēla Ķēniņš,
Izpircējs, Pulku Kungs:
es esmu pirmais, un es esmu pēdējais,
nav cita Dieva bez manis!
7 Kurš ir kā es? – lai runā,
lai saka un izklāsta –
kopš es iedibināju mūžīgo tautu
līdz pat tam, kas vēl nāks, –
lai stāsta! –
8 Nebīsties un nebaiļojies –
vai jau izsenis es neesmu tev to sacījis un sludinājis,
un jūs esat mani liecinieki –,
vai ir vēl kāds cits Dievs bez manis!?
Nav citas klints, es nezinu tādu!”
Bezvērtīgo elku tēlu taisītāji
9 Visi, kas darina tēlus, ir niekkalbji,
viņu dārgumi tiem neko nedod,
viņu liecinieki neko nav redzējuši,
un tie nezina, ka paliks kaunā!
10 Kas darinās dievus un lies tēlus,
kuri nedod nekādu labumu, –
11 tie paši un viņu biedri tiks kaunā,
un amatnieki tik cilvēki vien,
lai tie visi sapulcējas un nostājas –
visi nobīsies un paliks kaunā!
12 Kalējs ar sitamo uz oglēm darina,
ar āmuru veido to, ar savu stipro roku sastiprina;
bet, kad izsalcis, tad nav spēka,
ja ūdeni nepadzeras, tad pagurst!
13 Kokgriezējs nostiepj auklu, ar irbuli izzīmē,
ar grebli izgrebj, ar cirkuli apvelk
un taisa to pēc cilvēka veidola,
pēc cilvēka krāšņuma – lai mīt mājā!
14 Viņš cērt sev ciedrus,
ņem cipresi vai ozolu,
kas mežā starp kokiem uzaudzis,
iestāda egli, un lietus to audzē,
15 tas ļaudīm ir kurināmais,
to ņem un sildās
vai dedzina un cep uz tā maizi,
arīdzan uztaisa par dievu un zemojas tam,
darina tēlu un krīt zemē tā priekšā!
16 Pusi sadedzina ugunī,
lai paēstos gaļu,
cep liesumu un ēd līdz sātam,
ņem siltumam un saka:
heijā! Man silti, es redzu, kā kuras!
17 Bet atlikumu uztaisa par dievu un elku,
krīt zemē tā priekšā un zemojas tam,
pielūdz un saka:
glāb mani, tu esi mans dievs!
18 Viņi nezina un nejēdz,
acis tiem aizdarītas, ka neredz,
un sirdis – ka nesaprot!
19 Nevienam tas nenāk ne prātā,
neviens neatzīst, neapjēdz un nesaka:
pusi es sadedzināju ugunī,
cepdams uz oglēm maizi,
cepu gaļu un ēdu,
bet to, kas palika pāri,
uztaisīju par pretekli
un zemojos koka kluča priekšā!
20 Kas pārtiek no pīšļiem,
tas savu sirdi paļauj maldiem,
tas nevar pats sevi glābt,
tas neteiks: vai ne meli pie manas labās rokas?
Israēls nav aizmirsts
21 Atceries to, Jēkab
un Israēl, jo tu mans kalps,
es tevi radīju, tu mans kalps,
Israēl, es tevi neaizmirsīšu!
22 Kā mākoni es aiztrencu tavus noziegumus,
kā dūmaku tavus grēkus –
atgriezies pie manis, es tevi esmu izpircis!
23 Dziediet debesis, jo Kungs rīkojas,
līksmojiet, zemes dzīles,
lai izlaužas gaviles ik kalnam
un visiem kokiem mežā,
jo Kungs izpircis Jēkabu
un viņš tiks daudzināts Israēlā!
24 Tā saka Kungs, tavs Izpircējs,
kas tevi veidojis kopš mātes klēpja:
“Es, Kungs, esmu radījis visu,
viens pats izstiepis debesis
un izpletis zemi –
kas bija kopā ar mani?! –
25 Kas liek pievilties krāpnieku zīmēm,
kas pareģu darbus sagandē,
kas gudriem spēj stāties pretī
un viņu zināšanu piemuļķo?!
26 Kas piepilda savam kalpam solīto,
kas savu vēstnešu sacīto apstiprina,
kas saka Jeruzālemei: tā būs apdzīvota! –
un Jūdas pilsētām: jūs atkal uzcels,
jūsu drupas es atkal uzsliešu!
27 Kas saka dzīlei: kalsti!
Tavas upes es nosusināšu!
28 Kas saka par Kīru: viņš ir mans gans,
viņš pildīs manu gribu, –
un sacīs Jeruzālemei: atkal tu tiksi uzcelta! –
un templim: tev atkal liks pamatus!”
