1 "Listen to this, house of Jacob-- those who are called by the name Israel and have descended from Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and declare the God of Israel, *but not in truth or righteousness.2 For they are named after the Holy City, and lean on the God of Israel; His name is Yahweh of Hosts.3 I declared the past events long ago; they came out of My mouth; I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they occurred.4 Because I know that you are stubborn, and your neck is iron and your forehead bronze,5 therefore I declared to you long ago; I announced it to you before it occurred, so you could not claim: My idol caused them; my carved image and cast idol control them.6 You have heard it. Observe it all. Will you not acknowledge it? From now on I will announce new things to you, hidden things that you have not known.7 They have been created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today, so you could not claim, "I already knew them!"8 You have never heard; you have never known; For a long time your ears have not been open. For I knew that you were very treacherous, and were known as a rebel from birth.9 I will delay My anger for the honor of My name, and I will restrain Myself for your benefit and *for My praise, so that you will not be destroyed.10 Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.11 I will act for My own sake, indeed, My own, for how can I be defiled? I will not give My glory to another.12 "Listen to Me, Jacob, and Israel, the one called by Me: I am He; I am the first, I am also the last.13 My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summoned them, they stood up together.14 All of you, assemble and listen! Who among the idols has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he will accomplish His will against Babylon, and His arm *will be against the Chaldeans.15 I-- I have spoken; yes, I have called him; I have brought him, and he will succeed in his mission.16 Approach Me and listen to this. From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time anything existed, I was there." And now the Lord God has sent me and His Spirit.17 This is what the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for *your benefit, who leads you in the way you should go.18 If only you had paid attention to My commands. Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.19 Your descendants would have been as *countless as the sand, and the offspring of your body like its grains; their name would not be cut off or eliminated from My presence.20 Leave Babylon, flee from the Chaldeans! Declare with a shout of joy, proclaim this, let it go out to the end of the earth; announce, "The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!"21 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."