Isaiah 43:14-28

This is what the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says, “For your sake I have sent [one] to Babylon, And I will bring down all of them as fugitives, Even the Chaldeans [who reign in Babylon], into the ships over which they rejoiced. “I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.” This is what the LORD says, He who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters, He who brings out the chariot and the horse, The army and the mighty warrior, (They will lie down together, they will not rise again; They have been extinguished, they have been put out like a lamp’s wick): “Do not remember the former things, Or ponder the things of the past. “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. “The beasts of the field will honor Me, Jackals and ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. [Is 41:17, 18; 48:21] “The people whom I formed for Myself Will make known My praise. ¶“Yet you have not called on Me [in prayer and worship], O Jacob; But you have grown weary of Me, O Israel. “You have not brought Me your sheep or goats for your burnt offerings, Nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, Nor wearied you with [demands for offerings of] incense. “You have not bought Me sweet cane with money, Nor have you filled Me with the fat of your sacrifices; But you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your wickedness. ¶“I, only I, am He who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. “Remind Me [of your merits with a thorough report], let us plead and argue our case together; State your position, that you may be proved right. “Your first father [Jacob] sinned, And your spokesmen [the priests and the prophets—your mediators] have transgressed against Me. “So I will profane the officials of the sanctuary, And I will consign Jacob to destruction and [I will subject] Israel to defamation and abuse.