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1. The Lord says, "People of Jacob, you are my servants. Listen to me! People of Israel, I chose you."
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1. Yet now H6258 hear H8085 , O Jacob H3290 my servant H5650 ; and Israel H3478 , whom I have chosen H977 :
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2. This is what the Lord says, who made you, who formed you in your mother's body, who will help you: "People of Jacob, my servants, don't be afraid. Israel, I chose you.
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2. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 that made H6213 thee , and formed H3335 thee from the womb H4480 H990 , which will help H5826 thee; Fear H3372 not H408 , O Jacob H3290 , my servant H5650 ; and thou, Jesurun H3484 , whom I have chosen H977 .
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3. I will pour out water for the thirsty land and make streams flow on dry land. and my blessing on your descendants.
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3. For H3588 I will pour H3332 water H4325 upon H5921 him that is thirsty H6771 , and floods H5140 upon H5921 the dry ground H3004 : I will pour H3332 my spirit H7307 upon H5921 thy seed H2233 , and my blessing H1293 upon H5921 thine offspring H6631 :
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4. Your children will grow like a tree in the grass, like poplar trees growing beside streams of water.
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4. And they shall spring up H6779 as among H996 the grass H2682 , as willows H6155 by H5921 the water H4325 courses H2988 .
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5. One person will say, 'I belong to the Lord,' and another will use the name Jacob. Another will sign his name 'I am the Lord's,' and another will use the name Israel."
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5. One H2088 shall say H559 , I H589 am the LORD H3068 's ; and another H2088 shall call H7121 himself by the name H8034 of Jacob H3290 ; and another H2088 shall subscribe H3789 with his hand H3027 unto the LORD H3068 , and surname H3655 himself by the name H8034 of Israel H3478 .
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6. The Lord, the king of Israel, is the Lord All-Powerful, who saves Israel. This is what he says: "I am the beginning and the end. I am the only God.
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6. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 the King H4428 of Israel H3478 , and his redeemer H1350 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 ; I H589 am the first H7223 , and I H589 am the last H314 ; and beside H4480 H1107 me there is no H369 God H430 .
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7. Who is a god like me? That god should come and prove it. Let him tell and explain all that has happened since I set up my ancient people. He should also tell what will happen in the future.
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7. And who H4310 , as I , shall call H7121 , and shall declare H5046 it , and set it in order H6186 for me , since I appointed H4480 H7760 the ancient H5769 people H5971 ? and the things that are coming H857 , and shall come H935 , let them show H5046 unto them.
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8. Don't be afraid! Don't worry! I have always told you what will happen. You are my witnesses. There is no other God but me. I know of no other Rock; I am the only One."
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8. Fear H6342 ye not H408 , neither H408 be afraid H7297 : have not H3808 I told H8085 thee from that time H4480 H227 , and have declared H5046 it ? ye H859 are even my witnesses H5707 . Is there H3426 a God H433 beside H4480 H1107 me? yea, there is no H369 God H6697 ; I know H3045 not H1077 any .
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9. Some people make idols, but they are worth nothing. People treasure them, but they are useless. Those people are witnesses for the statues, but those people cannot see. They know nothing, so they will be ashamed.
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9. They that make H3335 a graven image H6459 are all H3605 of them vanity H8414 ; and their delectable things H2530 shall not H1077 profit H3276 ; and they H1992 are their own witnesses H5707 ; they see H7200 not H1077 , nor H1077 know H3045 ; that H4616 they may be ashamed H954 .
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10. Who made these gods? Who made these useless idols?
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10. Who H4310 hath formed H3335 a god H410 , or molten H5258 a graven image H6459 that is profitable H3276 for nothing H1115 ?
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11. The workmen who made them will be ashamed, because they are only human. If they all would come together, they would all be ashamed and afraid.
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11. Behold H2005 , all H3605 his fellows H2270 shall be ashamed H954 : and the workmen H2796 , they H1992 are of men H4480 H120 : let them all H3605 be gathered together H6908 , let them stand up H5975 ; yet they shall fear H6342 , and they shall be ashamed H954 together H3162 .
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12. One workman uses tools to heat iron, and he works over hot coals. With his hammer he beats the metal and makes a statue, using his powerful arms. But when he becomes hungry, he loses his power. If he does not drink water, he becomes tired.
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12. The blacksmith H2796 H1270 with the tongs H4621 both worketh H6466 in the coals H6352 , and fashioneth H3335 it with hammers H4717 , and worketh H6466 it with the strength H3581 of his arms H2220 : yea H1571 , he is hungry H7456 , and his strength H3581 faileth H369 : he drinketh H8354 no H3808 water H4325 , and is faint H3286 .
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13. Another workman uses a line and a compass to draw on the wood. Then he uses his chisels to cut a statue and his calipers to measure the statue. In this way, the workman makes the wood look exactly like a person, and this statue of a person sits in the house.
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13. The carpenter H2796 H6086 stretcheth out H5186 his rule H6957 ; he marketh it out H8388 with a line H8279 ; he fitteth H6213 it with planes H4741 , and he marketh it out H8388 with the compass H4230 , and maketh H6213 it after the figure H8403 of a man H376 , according to the beauty H8597 of a man H120 ; that it may remain H3427 in the house H1004 .
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14. He cuts down cedars or cypress or oak trees. Those trees grew by their own power in the forest. Or he plants a pine tree, and the rain makes it grow.
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14. He heweth him down H3772 cedars H730 , and taketh H3947 the cypress H8645 and the oak H437 , which he strengtheneth H553 for himself among the trees H6086 of the forest H3293 : he planteth H5193 an ash H766 , and the rain H1653 doth nourish H1431 it .
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15. Then he burns the tree. He uses some of the wood for a fire to keep himself warm. He also starts a fire to bake his bread. But he uses part of the wood to make a god, and then he worships it! He makes the idol and bows down to it!
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15. Then shall it be H1961 for a man H120 to burn H1197 : for he will take H3947 thereof H4480 , and warm H2552 himself; yea H637 , he kindleth H5400 it , and baketh H644 bread H3899 ; yea H637 , he maketh H6466 a god H410 , and worshipeth H7812 it ; he maketh H6213 it a graven image H6459 , and falleth down H5456 thereto.
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16. The man burns half of the wood in the fire. He uses the fire to cook his meat, and he eats the meat until he is full. He also burns the wood to keep himself warm. He says, "Good! Now I am warm. I can see because of the fire's light."
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16. He burneth H8313 part H2677 thereof in H1119 the fire H784 ; with H5921 part H2677 thereof he eateth H398 flesh H1320 ; he roasteth H6740 roast H6748 , and is satisfied H7646 : yea H637 , he warmeth H2552 himself , and saith H559 , Aha H1889 , I am warm H2552 , I have seen H7200 the fire H217 :
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17. But he makes a statue from the wood that is left and calls it his god. He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "You are my god. Save me!"
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17. And the residue H7611 thereof he maketh H6213 a god H410 , even his graven image H6459 : he falleth down H5456 unto it , and worshipeth H7812 it , and prayeth H6419 unto H413 it , and saith H559 , Deliver H5337 me; for H3588 thou H859 art my god H410 .
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18. Those people don't know what they are doing. They don't understand! It is as if their eyes are covered so they can't see. Their minds don't understand.
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18. They have not H3808 known H3045 nor H3808 understood H995 : for H3588 he hath shut H2902 their eyes H5869 , that they cannot see H4480 H7200 ; and their hearts H3820 , that they cannot understand H4480 H7919 .
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19. They have not thought about these things; they don't understand. They have never thought to themselves, "I burned half of the wood in the fire and used the hot coals to bake my bread. I cooked and ate my meat. And I used the wood that was left to make this hateful thing. I am worshiping a block of wood!"
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19. And none H3808 considereth H7725 in H413 his heart H3820 , neither H3808 is there knowledge H1847 nor H3808 understanding H8394 to say H559 , I have burned H8313 part H2677 of it in H1119 the fire H784 ; yea H637 , also I have baked H644 bread H3899 upon H5921 the coals H1513 thereof ; I have roasted H6740 flesh H1320 , and eaten H398 it : and shall I make H6213 the residue H3499 thereof an abomination H8441 ? shall I fall down H5456 to the stock H944 of a tree H6086 ?
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20. He doesn't know what he is doing; his confused mind leads him the wrong way. He cannot save himself or say, "This statue I am holding is a false god."
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20. He feedeth H7462 on ashes H665 : a deceived H2048 heart H3820 hath turned him aside H5186 , that he cannot H3808 deliver H5337 H853 his soul H5315 , nor H3808 say H559 , Is there not H3808 a lie H8267 in my right hand H3225 ?
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21. "People of Jacob, remember these things! People of Israel, remember you are my servants. I made you, and you are my servants. So Israel, I will not forget you.
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21. Remember H2142 these H428 , O Jacob H3290 and Israel H3478 ; for H3588 thou H859 art my servant H5650 : I have formed H3335 thee; thou H859 art my servant H5650 : O Israel H3478 , thou shalt not H3808 be forgotten H5382 of me.
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22. I have swept away your sins like a big cloud; I have removed your sins like a cloud that disappears into the air. Come back to me because I saved you."
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22. I have blotted out H4229 , as a thick cloud H5645 , thy transgressions H6588 , and , as a cloud H6051 , thy sins H2403 : return H7725 unto H413 me; for H3588 I have redeemed H1350 thee.
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23. Skies, sing for joy because the Lord did great things! Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts! Sing, you mountains, with thanks to God. Sing, too, you trees in the forest! He showed his glory when he saved Israel.
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23. Sing H7442 , O ye heavens H8064 ; for H3588 the LORD H3068 hath done H6213 it : shout H7321 , ye lower parts H8482 of the earth H776 : break forth H6476 into singing H7440 , ye mountains H2022 , O forest H3293 , and every H3605 tree H6086 therein: for H3588 the LORD H3068 hath redeemed H1350 Jacob H3290 , and glorified himself H6286 in Israel H3478 .
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24. This is what the Lord says, who saved you, who formed you in your mother's body: "I, the Lord, made everything, stretching out the skies by myself and spreading out the earth all alone.
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24. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , thy redeemer H1350 , and he that formed H3335 thee from the womb H4480 H990 , I H595 am the LORD H3068 that maketh H6213 all H3605 things ; that stretcheth forth H5186 the heavens H8064 alone H905 ; that spreadeth abroad H7554 the earth H776 by H854 myself;
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25. I show that the lying prophets' signs are false; I make fools of those who do magic. I confuse even wise men; they think they know much, but I make them look foolish.
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25. That frustrateth H6565 the tokens H226 of the liars H907 , and maketh diviners mad H1984 H7080 ; that turneth H7725 wise H2450 men backward H268 , and maketh their knowledge foolish H5528 H1847 ;
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26. I make the messages of my servants come true; I make the advice of my messengers come true. I say to Jerusalem, 'People will live in you again!' I say to the towns of Judah, 'You will be built again!' I say to Jerusalem's ruins, 'I will repair you.'
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26. That confirmeth H6965 the word H1697 of his servant H5650 , and performeth H7999 the counsel H6098 of his messengers H4397 ; that saith H559 to Jerusalem H3389 , Thou shalt be inhabited H3427 ; and to the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 , Ye shall be built H1129 , and I will raise up H6965 the decayed places H2723 thereof:
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27. I tell the deep waters, 'Become dry! I will make your streams become dry!'
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27. That saith H559 to the deep H6683 , Be dry H2717 , and I will dry up H3001 thy rivers H5104 :
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28. I say of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd and will do all that I want him to do. He will say to Jerusalem, "You will be built again!" He will tell the Temple, "Your foundations will be rebuilt."' "
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28. That saith H559 of Cyrus H3566 , He is my shepherd H7462 , and shall perform H7999 all H3605 my pleasure H2656 : even saying H559 to Jerusalem H3389 , Thou shalt be built H1129 ; and to the temple H1964 , Thy foundation shall be laid H3245 .
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