Isaiah 48:4-11

I knew you were stubborn. Your neck is like a rod of iron, and you’re as hard-hearted as brass! Long ago I told you these things. Long before they happened I proclaimed them so you would never be able to say, ‘My idols did this; my wood and metal idols decreed it!’ You have heard what I foretold and have seen it all unfold, so admit that it happened and I was right! From now on I will tell you about new things never seen before, hidden things, well-guarded secrets you know nothing about. They are created now, brand new today, not long ago! You’ve never heard of them before now, so you cannot say, ‘Oh, I already knew about that.’ “You have never heard nor understood; your ear had not been opened beforehand. Though I knew that you would fight against me as a rebel from birth, yet, for the sake of my great name and for my glory, I held back my anger and was patient with you so I did not whittle you down to nothing. See, I have purified you in the furnace of adversity, but not like silver—I have refined you in the fire. For my own sake alone I will do it, so my name will not be dishonored. I will not yield my glory to another.”