Isaiah 44:1-8

“Now, listen to me, my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one. I am YAHWEH, your Creator, who shaped you in my womb. Hear what I have to say to you: ‘Don’t fear. I will help you, O Jacob my servant, Do not fear, my pleasing one, Israel. I will pour refreshing water on the thirsty and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your children, my blessing upon your descendants. They will spring up like grass blanketing a meadow, like poplars growing by gushing streams. One will say, “I belong to YAHWEH.” Another will be called Jacob. Yet another will write on his hand “Property of YAHWEH.” Another will adopt the name Israel.’ ” The words of YAHWEH, Israel’s true King and Kinsman-Redeemer, YAHWEH, Commander of Angel Armies, says: “I am the Beginning and I am the Ending, and I am the only God there is. Who is like me? Go ahead, stand and speak up. I’ll wait for him to announce it and explain it all to me! Who else has announced from everlasting what is to come? Let him prophesy what is yet to be. Do not fear nor be shaken! Haven’t I foretold it, announcing it to you ahead of time? You are my witnesses, so tell me, is there any god besides me? There is no other Rock of shelter; I know not one.”