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Isaiah 43 (CEV)

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¹ Descendants of Jacob, I, the LORD, created you and formed your nation. Israel, don't be afraid. I have rescued you. I have called you by name; now you belong to me. ² When you cross deep rivers, I will be with you, and you won't drown. When you walk through fire, you won't be burned or scorched by the flames. ³ I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, the God who saves you. I gave up Egypt, Ethiopia, and the region of Seba in exchange for you. ⁴ To me, you are very dear, and I love you. That's why I gave up nations and people to rescue you. ⁵ Don't be afraid! I am with you. From both east and west I will bring you together. ⁶ I will say to the north and to the south, "Free my sons and daughters! Let them return from distant lands. ⁷ They are my people-- I created each of them to bring honor to me." ⁸ Bring my people together. They have eyes and ears, but they can't see or hear. ⁹ Tell everyone of every nation to gather around. None of them can honestly say, "We told you so!" If someone heard them say this, then tell us about it now. ¹⁰ My people, you are my witnesses and my chosen servant. I want you to know me, to trust me, and understand that I alone am God. I have always been God; there can be no others. ¹¹ I alone am the LORD; only I can rescue you. ¹² I promised to save you, and I kept my promise. You are my witnesses that no other god did this. I, the LORD, have spoken. ¹³ I am God now and forever. No one can snatch you from me or stand in my way. ¹⁴ I, the LORD, will rescue you! I am Israel's holy God, and this is my promise: For your sake, I will send an army against Babylon to drag its people away, crying as they go. ¹⁵ I am the LORD, your holy God, Israel's Creator and King. ¹⁶ I am the one who cut a path through the mighty ocean. ¹⁷ I sent an army to chase you with chariots and horses; now they lie dead, unable to move. They are like an oil lamp with the flame snuffed out. ¹⁸ Forget what happened long ago! Don't think about the past. ¹⁹ I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands. ²⁰ Every wild animal honors me, even jackals and owls. I provide water in deserts-- streams in thirsty lands for my chosen people. ²¹ I made them my own nation, so they would praise me. ²² I, the LORD, said to Israel: You have become weary, but not from worshiping me. ²³ You have not honored me by sacrificing sheep or other animals. And I have not burdened you with demands for sacrifices or sweet-smelling incense. ²⁴ You have not brought delicious spices for me or given me the best part of your sacrificed animals. Instead, you burden me down with your terrible sins. ²⁵ But I wipe away your sins because of who I am. And so, I will forget the wrongs you have done. ²⁶ Meet me in court! State your case and prove that you are right. ²⁷ Your earliest ancestor and all of your leaders rebelled against me. ²⁸ That's why I don't allow your priests to serve me; I let Israel be destroyed and your people disgraced.