Isaiah 44:21-28

“Remember these things, O Jacob’s tribes, and Israel, you are my servant. I created you to be my servant, and I will never forget you! I have swept away your sins like a thick cloud. I have made your guilt vanish like mist disappearing into thin air. Now come back, come back to me, for I have paid the price for you.” Sing! Starry sky above, break loose with singing, for YAHWEH has finished it! Shout! Earth deep below, give up your shout! Mountains high, break out with joyous songs of praise! Let the forest choirs join in, with every tree singing its notes! For YAHWEH has paid the ransom price for Jacob’s tribes, and he will be glorified in Israel! Here is what YAHWEH, your Kinsman-Redeemer, who formed you in his womb, has to say: “I am YAHWEH, Creator of all. I alone stretched out the canvas of the cosmos. I who shaped the earth needed no one’s help. Now I make fools of fortune-tellers and frustrate astrologers’ predictions. I confuse the wise, who think they know it all, and make their ‘knowledge’ into foolishness. I confirm the word of my servants and fulfill the prophecies of my messengers. I say to Jerusalem, ‘Many people will live in you again,’ and to the cities of Judah, ‘I will raise up your ruins; you will be rebuilt!’ I say to deep waters, ‘Dry up!’ and to rivers, ‘Become dry!’ I say concerning Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he will carry out all the purposes I have for him,’ saying to Jerusalem, ‘You will be rebuilt and flourish again!’ saying to the temple, ‘You will be reconstructed!’ ”