44:1
Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
44:2
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.
44:3
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:
44:4
And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water
courses.
44:5
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.
44:6
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.
(44:6, 8) "Beside me there is no God ... Is there a God beside me? yea,
there is no God; I know not any." How many gods are there?
44:7
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.
44:8
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.
44:9
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.
44:10
Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for
nothing?
44:11
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.
44:12
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.
44:13
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.
44:14He 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.
(44:14-16) "He heweth him down cedars ... among the trees of the forest ... yea, he kindleth it, and baketh
bread ... he maketh it a graven image ... he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm,
I have seen the fire."God hates
Christmas trees
44:15
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.
44:16
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:
44:17
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.
44:18
They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they
cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
44:19
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?
44:20
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?
44:21
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.
44:22
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud,
thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
44:23
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.
44:24
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;
(44:24) "I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone;
that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself." Who created heaven and earth?
(44:25-28) God makes diviners mad, turns wise men backwards, makes knowledge foolish, and dries up the oceans and rivers.
King Cyrus is God's shepherd.
(44:25) "That ... maketh diviners mad; that
turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish."
(44:27) "That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers."
(44:28) "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd.
44:25That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and
maketh diviners mad; that
turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
44:26
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:
44:27That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
44:28That 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.
