Berean Standard Bible

Isaiah 44

1But nowוְעַתָּ֥הve.'a.TahH6258listenשְׁמַ֖עshe.Ma'H8085,O Jacobיַעֲקֹ֣בya.'a.KoH3290My servantעַבְדִּ֑י'av.DiH5650,Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,whom I have chosenבָּחַ֥רְתִּיba.Char.tiH977.

2Thisכֹּה־koh-H3541is the wordאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559of the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah.wehH3068,your Makerעֹשֶׂ֛ךָ'o.Se.khaH6213,who formed youוְיֹצֶרְךָ֥ve.yo.tzer.KhaH3335from the wombמִבֶּ֖טֶןmi.Be.tenH990andwho will help youיַעְזְרֶ֑ךָּya'.ze.Re.kaH5826: “Do notאַל־'al-H408be afraidתִּירָא֙ti.Ra'H3372,O Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290My servantעַבְדִּ֣י'av.DiH5650,Jeshurunוִישֻׁר֖וּןvi.shu.RunH3484,whom I have chosenבָּחַ֥רְתִּיba.Char.tiH977.

3Forכִּ֤יkiH3588I will pourאֶצָּק־'e.tzok-H3332waterמַ֙יִם֙ma.yimH4325onעַל־'al-H5921the thirsty landצָמֵ֔אtza.Me'H6771,and currentsוְנֹזְלִ֖יםve.no.ze.LimH5140onעַל־'al-H5921the dry groundיַבָּשָׁ֑הya.ba.ShahH3004.I will pour outאֶצֹּ֤ק'e.TzokH3332My Spiritרוּחִי֙ru.ChiH7307onעַל־'al-H5921your descendantsזַרְעֶ֔ךָzar.'E.khaH2233,and My blessingוּבִרְכָתִ֖יu.vir.kha.TiH1293onעַל־'al-H5921your offspringצֶאֱצָאֶֽיךָ׃tze.'e.tza.'Ei.khaH6631.

4They will sproutוְצָמְח֖וּve.tza.me.ChuH6779amongבְּבֵ֣יןbe.VeinH996the grassחָצִ֑ירcha.TzirH2682like willowsכַּעֲרָבִ֖יםka.'a.ra.VimH6155byעַל־'al-H5921flowingיִבְלֵי־yiv.lei-H2988streamsמָֽיִם׃Ma.yimH4325.

5Oneזֶ֤הzehH2088will sayיֹאמַר֙yo.MarH559, ‘Iאָ֔נִי'A.niH589belongto the LORDלַֽיהוָ֣הla.Yah.wehH3068,’anotherוְזֶ֖הve.ZehH2088will call himselfיִקְרָ֣אyik.Ra'H7121by the nameבְשֵֽׁם־ve.shem-H8034of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֑בya.'a.KoH3290,and still anotherוְזֶ֗הve.ZehH2088will writeיִכְתֹּ֤בyikh.ToH3789on his handיָדוֹ֙ya.DoH3027, ‘The LORD’sלַֽיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068,’and will takeיְכַנֶּֽה׃ פye.kha.NehH3655the nameוּבְשֵׁ֥םu.ve.ShemH8034of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478.”

6Thusכֹּֽה־koh-H3541saysאָמַ֨ר'a.MarH559the LORDיְהוָ֧הYah.wehH3068,the Kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428and Redeemerוְגֹאֲל֖וֹve.go.'a.LoH1350of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֛לYis.ra.'ElH3478,the LORDיְהוָ֣הYah.wehH3068of Hostsצְבָא֑וֹתtze.va.'otH6635: “Iאֲנִ֤י'a.NiH589am the firstרִאשׁוֹן֙ri.shOnH7223and I amוַאֲנִ֣יva.'a.NiH589the lastאַחֲר֔וֹן'a.cha.RonH314,and there is noאֵ֥ין'einH369Godאֱלֹהִֽים׃'E.lo.HimH430but Meוּמִבַּלְעָדַ֖יu.mi.bal.'a.DaiH1107.

7Who thenוּמִֽי־u.mi-H4310islike Meכָמ֣וֹנִיkha.Mo.niH3644?Let him say soיִקְרָ֗אyik.Ra'H7121!Let him declareוְיַגִּידֶ֤הָve.ya.gi.De.haH5046hiscaseוְיַעְרְכֶ֙הָ֙ve.ya'.re.Khe.haH6186before Me,since I establishedמִשּׂוּמִ֖יmi.su.MiH7760an ancientעוֹלָ֑םo.LamH5769peopleעַם־'am-H5971.Let him foretellיַגִּ֥ידוּya.Gi.duH5046the things to comeוְאֹתִיּ֛וֹתve.'o.ti.YotH857,and whatוַאֲשֶׁ֥רva.'a.SherH834is to take placeתָּבֹ֖אנָהta.Vo.nahH935.

8Do notאַֽל־'al-H408trembleתִּפְחֲדוּ֙tif.cha.DuH6342orוְאַל־ve.'al-H408fearתִּרְה֔וּtir.HuH7297.Have I notהֲלֹ֥אha.Lo'H3808told youהִשְׁמַעְתִּ֥יךָhish.ma'.Ti.khaH8085and declared itוְהִגַּ֖דְתִּיve.hi.Gad.tiH5046long agoמֵאָ֛זme.'AzH227?Youוְאַתֶּ֣םve.'a.TemH859are My witnessesעֵדָ֑י'e.DaiH5707!Is thereהֲיֵ֤שׁha.YeshH3426any Godאֱל֙וֹהַּ֙'e.Lo.ahH433but Meמִבַּלְעָדַ֔יmi.bal.'a.DaiH1107?There is noוְאֵ֥יןve.'EinH369other Rockצ֖וּרtzurH6697;I knowיָדָֽעְתִּי׃ya.Da.'e.tiH3045not oneבַּל־bal-H1077.”

9Allכֻּלָּם֙ku.LamH3605makersיֹֽצְרֵי־yo.tze.rei-H3335of idolsפֶ֤סֶלFe.selH6459are nothingתֹּ֔הוּTo.huH8414,and the things they treasureוַחֲמוּדֵיהֶ֖םva.cha.mu.dei.HemH2530are worthlessבַּל־ יוֹעִ֑ילוּbal- yo.'I.luH1077 H3276.Their witnessesוְעֵדֵיהֶ֣ם הֵׄ֗מָּׄהׄve.'e.dei.Hem He.mahH5707 H1992fail toבַּל־bal-H1077seeיִרְא֛וּ וּבַל־yir.'U u.val-H7200 H1077or comprehendיֵדְע֖וּye.de.'UH3045,soלְמַ֥עַןle.Ma.'anH4616they are put to shameיֵבֹֽשׁוּ׃ye.Vo.shuH954.

10Whoמִֽי־mi-H4310fashionsיָצַ֥רya.TzarH3335a godאֵ֖ל'elH410or castsנָסָ֑ךְna.SakhH5258an idolוּפֶ֣סֶלu.Fe.selH6459which profits himהוֹעִֽיל׃ho.'IlH3276nothingלְבִלְתִּ֖יle.vil.TiH1115?

11Beholdהֵ֤ןhenH2005,allכָּל־kol-H3605his companionsחֲבֵרָיו֙cha.ve.RavH2270will be put to shameיֵבֹ֔שׁוּye.Vo.shuH954,for the craftsmenוְחָרָשִׁ֥יםve.cha.ra.ShimH2796themselvesהֵ֖מָּהHe.mahH1992are only humanמֵֽאָדָ֑םme.'a.DamH120.Let them allכֻלָּם֙khu.LamH3605assembleיִֽתְקַבְּצ֤וּyit.ka.be.TzuH6908and take their standיַֽעֲמֹ֔דוּya.'a.Mo.duH5975;they will allיָֽחַד׃Ya.chadH3162be brought to terrorיִפְחֲד֖וּyif.cha.DuH6342and shameיֵבֹ֥שׁוּye.Vo.shuH954.

12The blacksmithחָרַ֤שׁ בַּרְזֶל֙cha.Rash bar.ZelH2796 H1270takes a toolמַֽעֲצָ֔דma.'a.TzadH4621and laborsוּפָעַל֙u.fa.'AlH6466over the coalsבַּפֶּחָ֔םba.pe.ChamH6352;he fashionsיִצְּרֵ֑הוּyi.tze.Re.huH3335an idolwith hammersוּבַמַּקָּב֖וֹתu.vam.ma.ka.VotH4717and forgesוַיִּפְעָלֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yif.'a.Le.huH6466itwith his strongכֹּח֔וֹko.ChoH3581armsבִּזְר֣וֹעַbiz.Ro.a'H2220.Yetגַּם־gam-H1571he grows hungryרָעֵב֙ra.'EvH7456and loses his strengthוְאֵ֣ין כֹּ֔חַve.'Ein Ko.achH3581 H369;he failsלֹא־lo'-H3808to drinkשָׁ֥תָהSha.tahH8354waterמַ֖יִםMa.yimH4325and grows faintוַיִּיעָֽף׃vai.yi.'AfH3286.

13The woodworkerחָרַ֣שׁ עֵצִים֮cha.Rash 'e.TzimH2796 H6086extendsנָ֣טָהNa.tahH5186a measuring lineקָו֒kavH6957;he marks it outיְתָאֲרֵ֣הוּye.ta.'a.Re.huH8388with a stylusבַשֶּׂ֔רֶדva.Se.redH8279;he shapesיַעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙ya.'a.Se.huH6213it with chiselsבַּמַּקְצֻע֔וֹתba.mak.tzu.'otH4741and outlinesיְתָאֳרֵ֑הוּye.to.'o.Re.huH8388it with a compassוּבַמְּחוּגָ֖הu.va.me.chu.GahH4230.He fashions itוַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֙הוּ֙vai.ya.'a.Se.huH6213in the likenessכְּתַבְנִ֣יתke.tav.NitH8403of manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376,like manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120in all his gloryכְּתִפְאֶ֥רֶתke.tif.'E.retH8597,that it may dwellלָשֶׁ֥בֶתla.She.vetH3427in a shrineבָּֽיִת׃Ba.yitH1004.

14He cuts downלִכְרָת־likh.rot-H3772cedarsאֲרָזִ֔ים'a.ra.ZimH730or retrievesוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947a cypressתִּרְזָה֙tir.ZahH8645or oakוְאַלּ֔וֹןve.'a.LonH437.He lets it grow strongוַיְאַמֶּץ־vay.'a.metz-H553among the treesבַּעֲצֵי־ba.'a.tzei-H6086of the forestיָ֑עַרYa.'arH3293.He plantsנָטַ֥עna.Ta'H5193a laurelאֹ֖רֶן'O.renH766,and the rainוְגֶ֥שֶׁםve.Ge.shemH1653makes it growיְגַדֵּֽל׃ye.ga.DelH1431.

15It servesוְהָיָ֤הve.ha.YahH1961as fuelלְבָעֵ֔רle.va.'ErH1197for manלְאָדָם֙le.'a.DamH120.He takesוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947some of itto warm himselfוַיָּ֔חָםvai.Ya.chomH2552,andאַף־'af-H637he kindles a fireיַשִּׂ֖יקya.SikH5400and bakesוְאָ֣פָהve.'A.fahH644hisbreadלָ֑חֶםLa.chemH3899.He alsoאַף־'af-H637fashions itיִפְעַל־yif.'al-H6466into a godאֵל֙'elH410and worships itוַיִּשְׁתָּ֔חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812;he makesעָשָׂ֥הוּ'a.Sa.huH6213an idolפֶ֖סֶלFe.selH6459and bows downוַיִּסְגָּד־vai.yis.god-H5456to it.

16He burnsשָׂרַ֣ףsa.RafH8313halfחֶצְיוֹ֙chetz.YoH2677of it inבְּמוֹ־be.mov-H1119the fireאֵ֔שׁ'EshH784,and he roastsיִצְלֶ֥הyitz.LehH6740meatבָּשָׂ֣רba.SarH1320onעַל־'al-H5921that halfחֶצְיוֹ֙chetz.YoH2677.He eatsיֹאכֵ֔לyo.KhelH398the roastצָלִ֖יtza.LiH6748and is satisfiedוְיִשְׂבָּ֑עve.yis.Ba'H7646.Indeedאַף־'af-H637,he warms himselfיָחֹם֙ya.ChomH2552and saysוְיֹאמַ֣רve.yo.MarH559, “Ahהֶאָ֔חhe.'AchH1889!I am warmחַמּוֹתִ֖יcha.mo.TiH2552;I seeרָאִ֥יתִיra.'I.tiH7200the fireאֽוּר׃'UrH217.”

17From the restוּשְׁאֵ֣רִית֔וֹu.she.'E.ri.ToH7611he makesעָשָׂ֖ה'a.SahH6213a godלְאֵ֥לle.'ElH410,his graven imageלְפִסְל֑וֹle.fis.LoH6459.He bows down to itH5456and worshipsוְיִשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ve.yish.Ta.chuH7812;he praysוְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣לve.yit.pa.LelH6419to itאֵלָ֔יו'e.LavH413and saysוְיֹאמַר֙ve.yo.MarH559, “Save meהַצִּילֵ֔נִיha.tzi.Le.niH5337,forכִּ֥יkiH3588youאָֽתָּה׃'A.tahH859are my godאֵלִ֖י'e.LiH410.”

18They do notלֹ֥אlo'H3808comprehendיָדְע֖וּya.de.'UH3045orוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808discernיָבִ֑ינוּya.Vi.nuH995,forכִּ֣יkiH3588He has shutטַ֤חtachH2902their eyesעֵֽינֵיהֶ֔ם'ei.nei.HemH5869so they cannot seeמֵֽרְאוֹת֙me.re.'OtH7200and closed their mindsלִבֹּתָֽם׃li.bo.TamH3820so they cannot understandמֵהַשְׂכִּ֖ילme.has.KilH7919.

19And no oneוְלֹא־ve.lo'-H3808considersיָשִׁ֣יבya.ShivH7725inאֶל־'el-H413his heartלִבּ֗וֹli.BoH3820,noוְלֹ֨אve.Lo'H3808one has the knowledgeדַ֥עַת וְלֹֽא־Da.'at ve.lo'-H1847 H3808or insightתְבוּנָה֮te.vu.NahH8394to sayלֵאמֹר֒le.MorH559, “I burnedשָׂרַ֣פְתִּיsa.Raf.tiH8313halfחֶצְי֞וֹchetz.YoH2677of it inבְמוֹ־ve.mov-H1119the fireאֵ֗שׁ'EshH784,and Iוְ֠אַףVe.'afH637bakedאָפִ֤יתִי'a.Fi.tiH644breadלֶ֔חֶםLe.chemH3899onעַל־'al-H5921its coalsגֶּחָלָיו֙ge.cha.LavH1513;I roastedאֶצְלֶ֥ה'etz.LehH6740meatבָשָׂ֖רva.SarH1320and I ateוְאֹכֵ֑לve.'o.KhelH398.Shall I makeאֶעֱשֶׂ֔ה'e.'e.SehH6213something detestableלְתוֹעֵבָ֣הle.to.'e.VahH8441with the rest of itוְיִתְרוֹ֙ve.yit.RoH3499?Shall I bow downאֶסְגּֽוֹד׃'es.GodH5456to a blockלְב֥וּלle.VulH944of woodעֵ֖ץ'etzH6086?”

Jerusalem to Be Restored

20He feeds onרֹעֶ֣הro.'EhH7462ashesאֵ֔פֶר'E.ferH665.His deludedהוּתַ֖לhu.TalH2048heartלֵ֥בlevH3820has led him astrayהִטָּ֑הוּhi.Ta.huH5186,and he cannotוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808deliverיַצִּ֤ילya.TzilH5337אֶת־'et-H853himselfנַפְשׁוֹ֙naf.ShoH5315orוְלֹ֣אve.Lo'H3808sayיֹאמַ֔רyo.MarH559, “Is notהֲל֥וֹאha.Lo'H3808this thing in my right handבִּימִינִֽי׃ סbi.mi.NiH3225a lieשֶׁ֖קֶרShe.kerH8267?”

21Rememberזְכָר־ze.khor-H2142these thingsאֵ֣לֶּה'E.lehH428,O Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,forכִּ֣יkiH3588youאָ֑תָּה'A.tahH859are My servantעַבְדִּי־'av.di-H5650,O Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.I have made youיְצַרְתִּ֤יךָye.tzar.Ti.khaH3335, andyouאַ֔תָּה'A.tahH859are My servantעֶֽבֶד־'e.ved-H5650;O Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478, Iwill neverלֹ֥אlo'H3808forgetתִנָּשֵֽׁנִי׃ti.na.She.niH5382you.

22I have blotted outמָחִ֤יתִיma.Chi.tiH4229your transgressionsפְּשָׁעֶ֔יךָpe.sha.'Ei.khaH6588like a cloudכָעָב֙kha.'AvH5645,and your sinsחַטֹּאותֶ֑יךָcha.to.Tei.khaH2403like a mistוְכֶעָנָ֖ןve.khe.'a.NanH6051.Returnשׁוּבָ֥הshu.VahH7725to Meאֵלַ֖י'e.LaiH413,forכִּ֥יkiH3588I have redeemed youגְאַלְתִּֽיךָ׃ge.'al.Ti.khaH1350.

23Sing for joyרָנּ֨וּra.NuH7442,O heavensשָׁמַ֜יִםsha.Ma.yimH8064,forכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068has done thisעָשָׂ֣ה'a.SahH6213;shout aloudהָרִ֙יעוּ֙ha.Ri.'uH7321,O depthsתַּחְתִּיּ֣וֹתtach.ti.YotH8482of the earthאָ֔רֶץ'A.retzH776.Break forthפִּצְח֤וּpitz.ChuH6476in songרִנָּ֔הri.NahH7440,O mountainsהָרִים֙ha.RimH2022,you forestsיַ֖עַרYa.'arH3293and all yourוְכָל־ve.kholH3605treesעֵ֣ץ'etzH6086.Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068has redeemedגָאַ֤לga.'AlH1350Jacobיַֽעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290,and revealed His gloryיִתְפָּאָֽר׃ פyit.pa.'ArH6286in Israelוּבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לu.ve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

24Thusכֹּֽה־koh-H3541saysאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,your Redeemerגֹּאֲלֶ֔ךָgo.'a.Le.khaH1350who formed youוְיֹצֶרְךָ֖ve.yo.tzer.KhaH3335from the wombמִבָּ֑טֶןmi.Ba.tenH990: “Iאָנֹכִ֤י'a.no.KhiH595am the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,who has madeעֹ֣שֶׂה'O.sehH6213all thingsכֹּ֔לKolH3605,who alone stretched outנֹטֶ֤ה לְבַדִּ֔יno.Teh le.va.DiH5186 H905the heavensשָׁמַ֙יִם֙sha.Ma.yimH8064,who by MyselfH4310spread outרֹקַ֥עro.Ka'H7554the earthהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776מֵאִתִּֽי׃ma.'i.tiH854,

25who foilsמֵפֵר֙me.FerH6565the signsאֹת֣וֹת'o.TotH226of false prophetsבַּדִּ֔יםba.DimH907and makes fools ofיְהוֹלֵ֑לye.ho.LelH1984divinersוְקֹסְמִ֖יםve.ko.se.MimH7080,who confoundsמֵשִׁ֧יב אָח֖וֹרme.Shiv 'a.ChorH7725 H268the wiseחֲכָמִ֛יםcha.kha.MimH2450and turns their knowledgeוְדַעְתָּ֥םve.da'.TamH1847into nonsenseיְשַׂכֵּֽל׃ye.sa.KelH5528,

26who confirmsמֵקִים֙me.KimH6965the messageדְּבַ֣רde.VarH1697of His servantעַבְדּ֔וֹav.DoH5650and fulfillsיַשְׁלִ֑יםyash.LimH7999the counselוַעֲצַ֥תva.'a.TzatH6098of His messengersמַלְאָכָ֖יוmal.'a.KhavH4397,who saysהָאֹמֵ֨רha.'o.MerH559of Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִַ֜םli.ru.sha.LimH3389, ‘She will be inhabitedתּוּשָׁ֗בtu.ShavH3427,’and of the citiesוּלְעָרֵ֤יu.le.'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָה֙ye.hu.DahH3063, ‘They will be rebuiltתִּבָּנֶ֔ינָהti.ba.Nei.nahH1129,and I will restoreאֲקוֹמֵֽם׃'a.ko.MemH6965their ruinsוְחָרְבוֹתֶ֖יהָve.cha.re.vo.Tei.haH2723,’

27who saysהָאֹמֵ֥רha.'o.MerH559to the depths of the seaלַצּוּלָ֖הla.tzu.LahH6683, ‘Be dryחֳרָ֑בִיcho.Ra.viH2717,and I will dry upאוֹבִֽישׁ׃'o.VishH3001your currentsוְנַהֲרֹתַ֖יִךְve.na.ha.ro.Ta.yikhH5104,’

28who saysהָאֹמֵ֤רha.'o.MerH559of Cyrusלְכ֙וֹרֶשׁ֙le.Kho.reshH3566, ‘My shepherdרֹעִ֔יro.'IH7462will fulfillיַשְׁלִ֑םyash.LimH7999allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605that I desireחֶפְצִ֖יchef.TziH2656,’who saysוְלֵאמֹ֤רve.le.MorH559of Jerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙li.ru.sha.LimH3389, ‘She will be rebuiltתִּבָּנֶ֔הti.ba.NehH1129,’and of the templeוְהֵיכָ֖לve.hei.KhalH1964, ‘Let its foundation be laidתִּוָּסֵֽד׃ סti.va.SedH3245.’”

Jerusalem to Be Restored

Commentaries on Isaiah 44