Isaías 44
Bible in Basic English
1And now, give ear, O Jacob my servant, and Israel whom I have taken for myself:
2The Lord who made you, forming you in your mother's body, the Lord, your helper, says, Have no fear, O Jacob my servant, and you, Jeshurun, whom I have taken for myself.
3For I will send water on the land needing it, and streams on the dry earth: I will let my spirit come down on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring.
4And they will come up like grass in a well-watered field, like water-plants by the streams.
5One will say, I am the Lord's; and another will give himself the name, Jacob; another will put a mark on his hand, I am the Lord's, and another will take the name of Israel for himself.
6The Lord, the King of Israel, even the Lord of armies who has taken up his cause, says, I am the first and the last, and there is no God but me.
7If there is one like me, let him come forward and say it, let him make it clear and put it in order before me: who has made clear in the past the things to come? let him make clear the future to me.
8Have no fear, be strong in heart; have I not made it clear to you in the past, and let you see it? and you are my witnesses. Is there any God but me, or a Rock of whom I have no knowledge?
9Those who make a pictured image are all of them as nothing, and the things of their desire will be of no profit to them: and their servants see not, and have no knowledge; so they will be put to shame.
10Whoever makes a god, makes nothing but a metal image in which there is no profit.
11Truly, all those who make use of secret arts will be put to shame, and their words of power are only words of men: let them all come forward together; they will all be in fear and be put to shame.
12The iron-worker is heating the metal in the fire, giving it form with his hammers, and working on it with his strong arm: then for need of food his strength gives way, and for need of water he becomes feeble.
13The woodworker is measuring out the wood with his line, marking it out with his pencil: after smoothing it with his plane, and making circles on it with his instrument, he gives it the form and glory of a man, so that it may be placed in the house.
14He has cedars cut down for himself, he takes an oak and lets it get strong among the trees of the wood; he has an ash-tree planted, and the rain gives it growth.
15Then it will be used to make a fire, so that a man may get warm; he has the oven heated with it and makes bread: he makes a god with it, to which he gives worship: he makes a pictured image out of it, and goes down on his face before it.
16With part of it he makes a fire, and on the fire he gets meat cooked and takes a full meal: he makes himself warm, and says, Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire:
17And the rest of it he makes into a god, even his pictured image: he goes down on his face before it, giving worship to it, and making prayer to it, saying, Be my saviour; for you are my god.
18They have no knowledge or wisdom; for he has put a veil over their eyes, so that they may not see; and on their hearts, so that they may not give attention.
19And no one takes note, no one has enough knowledge or wisdom to say, I have put part of it in the fire, and made bread on it; I have had a meal of the flesh cooked with it: and am I now to make the rest of it into a false god? am I to go down on my face before a bit of wood?
20As for him whose food is the dust of a dead fire, he has been turned from the way by a twisted mind, so that he is unable to keep himself safe by saying, What I have here in my hand is false.
21Keep these things in mind, O Jacob; and you Israel, for you are my servant: I have made you; you are my servant; O Israel, I will not let you go out of my memory.
22I have put your evil doings out of my mind like a thick cloud, and your sins like a mist: come back to me; for I have taken up your cause.
23Make a song, O heavens, for the Lord has done it: give a loud cry, you deep parts of the earth: let your voices be loud in song, you mountains, and you woods with all your trees: for the Lord has taken up the cause of Jacob, and will let his glory be seen in Israel.
24The Lord, who has taken up your cause, and who gave you life in your mother's body, says, I am the Lord who makes all things; stretching out the heavens by myself, and giving the earth its limits; who was with me?
25Who makes the signs of those who give word of the future come to nothing, so that those who have knowledge of secret arts go off their heads; turning the wise men back, and making their knowledge foolish:
26Who makes the word of his servants certain, and gives effect to the purposes of his representatives; who says of Jerusalem, Her people will come back to her; and of the towns of Judah, I will give orders for their building, and will make her waste places fertile again:
27Who says to the deep, Be dry, and I will make your rivers dry:
28Who says of Cyrus, He will take care of my sheep, and will do all my pleasure: who says of Jerusalem, I will give the word for your building; and of the Temple, Your bases will be put in place.
Reina-Valera 1909
1AHORA pues oye, Jacob, siervo mío, y tú, Israel, á quien yo escogí.
2Así dice Jehová, Hacedor tuyo, y el que te formó desde el vientre, el cual te ayudará: No temas, siervo mío Jacob, y tú, Jeshurun, á quien yo escogí.
3Porque yo derramaré aguas sobre el secadal, y ríos sobre la tierra árida: mi espíritu derramaré sobre tu generación, y mi bendición sobre tus renuevos:
4Y brotarán entre hierba, como sauces junto á las riberas de las aguas.
5Este dirá: Yo soy de Jehová; el otro se llamará del nombre de Jacob; y otro escribirá con su mano, A Jehová, y se apellidará con el nombre de Israel.
6Así dice Jehová, Rey de Israel, y su Redentor, Jehová de los ejércitos: Yo el primero, y yo el postrero, y fuera de mí no hay Dios.
7¿Y quién llamará como yo, y denunciará esto, y lo ordenará por mí, desde que hice el pueblo antiguo? Anúncienles lo que viene, y lo que está por venir.
8No temáis, ni os amedrentéis: ¿no te lo hice oir desde antiguo, y te lo dije? Luego vosotros sois mis testigos. No hay Dios sino yo. No hay Fuerte: no conozco ninguno.
9Los formadores de imágenes de talla, todos ellos son vanidad, y lo más precioso de ellos para nada es útil; y ellos mismos para su confusión son testigos, que ellos ni ven ni entienden.
10¿Quién formó un dios, ó quién fundó una estatua que para nada es de provecho?
11He aquí que todos sus compañeros serán avergonzados; porque los mismos artífices son de los hombres. Todos ellos se juntarán, estarán, se asombrarán, y serán avergonzados á una.
12El herrero tomará la tenaza, obrará en las ascuas, darále forma con los martillos, y trabajará en ella con la fuerza de su brazo: tiene luego hambre, y le faltan las fuerzas; no beberá agua, y se desmaya.
13El carpintero tiende la regla, señala aquélla con almagre, lábrala con los cepillos, dale figura con el compás, hácela en forma de varón, á semejanza de hombre hermoso, para estar en casa.
14Cortaráse cedros, y tomará encina y alcornoque, y entre los árboles del bosque se esforzará; plantará pino, que se críe con la lluvia.
15De él se servirá luego el hombre para quemar, y tomará de ellos para calentarse; encenderá también el horno, y cocerá panes: hará además un dios, y lo adorará; fabricará un ídolo, y arrodillaráse delante de él.
16Parte del leño quemará en el fuego; con parte de él comerá carne, aderezará asado, y se saciará; después se calentará, y dirá: ¡Oh! heme calentado, he visto el fuego;
17Y torna su sobrante en un dios, en su escultura; humíllase delante de ella, adórala, y ruégale diciendo: Líbrame, que mi dios eres tú.
18No supieron ni entendieron: porque encostrados están sus ojos para no ver, y su corazón para no entender.
19No discurre para consigo, no tiene sentido ni entendimiento para decir: Parte de esto quemé en el fuego, y sobre sus brasas cocí pan, asé carne, y comíla; ¿he de tornar en una abominación lo restante de ello? ¿delante de un tronco de árbol tengo de humillarme?
20De ceniza se apacienta; su corazón engañado le desvía, para que no libre su alma, ni diga: ¿No hay una mentira á mi mano derecha?
21Acuérdate de estas cosas, oh Jacob, é Israel, pues que tú mi siervo eres: Yo te formé; siervo mío eres tú: Israel, no me olvides.
22Yo deshice como á nube tus rebeliones, y como á niebla tus pecados: tórnate á mí, porque yo te redimí.
23Cantad loores, oh cielos, porque Jehová lo hizo; gritad con júbilo, lugares bajos de la tierra; prorrumpid, montes, en alabanza; bosque, y todo árbol que en él está: porque Jehová redimió á Jacob, y en Israel será glorificado.
24Así dice Jehová, tu Redentor, y formador tuyo desde el vientre: Yo Jehová, que lo hago todo, que extiendo solo los cielos, que extiendo la tierra por mí mismo;
25Que deshago las señales de los adivinos, y enloquezco á los agoreros; que hago tornar atrás los sabios, y desvanezco su sabiduría;
26Que despierta la palabra de su siervo, y cumple el consejo de sus mensajeros; que dice á Jerusalem: Serás habitada; y á las ciudades de Judá: Reedificadas serán, y sus ruinas levantaré;
27Que dice al profundo: Sécate, y tus ríos haré secar;
28Que dice de Ciro: Es mi pastor, y cumplirá todo lo que yo quiero, en diciendo á Jerusalem, Serás edificada; y al templo: Serás fundado.
King James Version
1Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
2Thus 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.
3For 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:
4And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
5One 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.
6Thus 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.
7And 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.
8Fear 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.
9They 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.
10Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?
11Behold, 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.
12The 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.
13The 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.
14He 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.
15Then 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.
16He 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:
17And 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.
18They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
19And 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?
20He 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?
21Remember 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.
22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23Sing, 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.
24Thus 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;
25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26That confirmeth 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:
27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
28That 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.
World English Bible
1Yet listen now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.
2This is what the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: “Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring;
4and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.
5One will say, ‘I am the LORD’s.’ Another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand ‘to the LORD,’ and honor the name of Israel.”
6This is what the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of Armies, says: “I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.
7Who 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.
8Don’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.”
9Everyone who makes a carved 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.
10Who has fashioned a god, or molds an image that is profitable for nothing?
11Behold, all his fellows will be disappointed; and the workmen are mere men. Let them all be gathered together. Let them stand up. They will fear. They will be put to shame together.
12The blacksmith takes an ax, works in the coals, fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm. He is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint.
13The carpenter stretches out a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes. He marks it out with compasses, and shapes it like the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to reside in a house.
14He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest. He plants a cypress tree, and the rain nourishes it.
15Then it will be for a man to burn; and he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he burns it and bakes bread. Yes, he makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it.
16He burns part of it in the fire. With part of it, he eats meat. He roasts a roast and is satisfied. Yes, he warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm. I have seen the fire.”
17The rest of it he makes into a god, even his engraved image. He bows down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”
18They don’t know, neither do they consider, for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see, and their hearts, that they can’t understand.
19No 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?”
20He feeds on ashes. A deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can’t deliver his soul, nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
21Remember these things, Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I have formed you. You are my servant. Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
23Sing, you heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
24The LORD, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb says: “I am the LORD, who makes all things; who alone stretches out the heavens; who spreads out the earth by myself;
25who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish;
26who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’ and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’
27who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers,’
28who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’ even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”