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Isaiah 48 (CEV)

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¹ People of Israel, you come from Jacob's family and the tribe of Judah. You claim to worship me, the LORD God of Israel, but you are lying. ² You call Jerusalem your home and say you depend on me, the LORD All-Powerful, the God of Israel. ³ Long ago I announced what was going to be, then without warning, I made it happen. ⁴ I knew you were stubborn and hardheaded. ⁵ And I told you these things, so that when they happened you would not say, "The idols we worship did this." ⁶ You heard what I said, and you have seen it happen. Now admit that it's true! I will show you secrets you have never known. ⁷ Today I am doing something new, something you cannot say you have heard before. ⁸ You have never been willing to listen to what I say; from the moment of your birth, I knew you would rebel. ⁹ I, the LORD, am true to myself; I will be praised for not punishing and destroying you. ¹⁰ I tested you in hard times just as silver is refined in a heated furnace. ¹¹ I did this because of who I am. I refuse to be dishonored or share my praise with any other god. ¹² Israel, my chosen people, listen to me. I alone am the LORD, the first and the last. ¹³ With my own hand I created the earth and stretched out the sky. They obey my every command. ¹⁴ Gather around me, all of you! Listen to what I say. Did any of your idols predict this would happen? Did they say that my friend would do what I want done to Babylonia? ¹⁵ I was the one who chose him. I have brought him this far, and he will be successful. ¹⁶ Come closer and listen! I have never kept secret the things I have said, and I was here before time began. By the power of his Spirit the LORD God has sent me ¹⁷ with this message: People of Israel, I am the holy LORD God, the one who rescues you. For your own good, I teach you, and I lead you along the right path. ¹⁸ How I wish that you had obeyed my commands! Your success and good fortune would then have overflowed like a flooding river. ¹⁹ Your nation would be blessed with more people than there are grains of sand along the seashore. And I would never have let your country be destroyed. ²⁰ Now leave Babylon! Celebrate as you go. Be happy and shout for everyone to hear, "The LORD has rescued his servant Israel! ²¹ He led us through the desert and made water flow from a rock to satisfy our thirst. ²² But the LORD has promised that none who are evil will live in peace."