1: Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have
chosen: |
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2: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the
womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou,
Jesurun, whom I have chosen. |
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3:
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods
upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my
blessing upon thine offspring: |
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4: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the
water courses. |
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5: One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself
by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the
LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel. |
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6: Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the
LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is
no God. |
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7: And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in
order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that
are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. |
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8: Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that
time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God
beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. |
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9: They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and
their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own
witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. |
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10: Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is
profitable for nothing? |
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11: Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen,
they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up;
yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together. |
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12: The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and
fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his
arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water,
and is faint. |
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13: The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with
a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the
compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the
beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house. |
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14: He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the
oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest:
he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. |
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15: Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof,
and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh
a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down
thereto. |
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16: He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he
eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth
himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: |
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17: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven
image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it,
and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. |
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18: They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their
eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot
understand. |
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19: And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge
nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea,
also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh,
and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall
I fall down to the stock of a tree? |
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20: He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside,
that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right
hand? |
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21: Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant:
I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be
forgotten of me. |
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22: I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions,
and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
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23: Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye
lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O
forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and
glorified himself in Israel. |
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24: Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee
from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth
forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself; |
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25: That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners
mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
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26: That nfirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the
counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be
inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will
raise up the decayed places thereof: |
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27: That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
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28: That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all
my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the
temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. |