Shaya 44
Yet now hear, Yaqub my servant, and Israel, who I have chosen: 2Thus says Allah who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you: Do not be afraid, Yaqub my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit on your seed, and my blessing on your offspring: 4and they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. 5One shall say, I am Allah's; and another shall call himself by the name of Yaqub; and another shall subscribe with his hand to Allah, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 6Thus says Allah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Allah, Lord of the universe: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. 7Who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? The things that are coming, and that shall happen, let them declare. 8Do not fear, neither be afraid: haven't I declared to you of old, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I do not know any Rock. 9Those who fashion an engraved image are all of them vanity; and the things that they delight in shall not profit; and their own witnesses do not see, nor know: that they may be disappointed. 10Who has fashioned a god, or cast an image that is profitable for nothing? 11Behold, all his fellows shall be disappointed; and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; they shall fear, they shall be put to shame together. 12The blacksmith makes an axe, and works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, and works it with his strong arm: yes, he is hungry, and his strength fails; he drinks no water, and is faint. 13The carpenter stretches out a line; he marks it out with a pencil; he shapes it with planes, and he marks it out with the compasses, and shapes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house. 14He cuts down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak, and strengthens for himself one among the trees of the forest: he plants a fir tree, and the rain nourishes it. 15Then it shall be for a man to burn; and he takes from it, and warms himself; yes, he kindles it, and bakes bread: yes, he makes a god, and worships it; he makes it an engraved image, and falls down to it. 16He burns part of it in the fire; with part of it he eats flesh; he roasts roast, and is satisfied; yes, he warms himself, and says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire. 17The residue of it he makes a god, even his engraved image; he falls down to it and worships, and prays to it, and says, Deliver me; for you are my god. 18They do not know, neither do they consider: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. 19None calls to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yes, also I have baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it: and shall I make the residue of it an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? 20He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? 21Remember these things, Yaqub, and Israel; for you are my servant: I have formed you; you are my servant: Israel, you shall not be forgotten by me. 22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins: return to me; for I have redeemed you. 23Sing, you heavens, for Allah has done it; shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Allah has redeemed Yaqub, and will glorify himself in Israel. 24Thus says Allah, your Redeemer, and he who formed you from the womb: I am Allah, who makes all things; who stretches forth the heavens alone; who spreads abroad the earth (who is with me?); 25who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish; 26who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up its waste places; 27who says to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up your rivers; 28Who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Your foundation shall be laid.