God chose Israel and promises to pour his Spirit on their descendants. He mocks idol makers, who burn half a log for fuel and make the rest into a god. God says that Cyrus will be his shepherd and rebuild Jerusalem.
1 Yet now hear , O Jacob my servant ; and Israel , whom I have chosen :
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 .
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 :
4 And they shall spring up as among the grass , as willows by the water courses .
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 .
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 .
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.
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.
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 .
10 Who hath formed a god , or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing ?
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 .
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 .
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 .
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.
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.
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 :
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 .
18 They have not known nor understood : for he hath shut their eyes , that they cannot see ; and their hearts , that they cannot understand .
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 ?
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 ?
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.
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.
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 .
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;
25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars , and maketh diviners mad ; that turneth wise men backward , and maketh their knowledge foolish ;
26 That 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:
27 That saith to the deep , Be dry , and I will dry up thy rivers :
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 .