Isaiah 48 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Listen to this, house of Jacob — you who carry the name Israel, who came from the bloodline of Judah, who swear by the name of Yahweh and call on the God of Israel — but not with honesty, not with integrity.

They claim citizenship in the set-apart city, they lean on the God of Israel — Yahweh, Commander of Armies, is his name.

The things that already happened— I announced them long ago. They came from my own mouth; I made them known. Then suddenly I acted, and they came true.

Because I know how stubborn you are — your neck is an iron tendon, your forehead is bronze —

I told you these things long before they happened. Before they unfolded, I announced them to you — so you could never say, "My idol did this," or "My carved image, my metal god — they made this happen."

You've heard all of this—now look at it. Won't you admit it? From this moment on, I'm telling you new things— hidden things you've never known.

They are created now, not long ago. Before today, you never heard of them— so you can't say, "Oh, I already knew that."

You never heard. You never knew. Your ears have not been open from the start. Because I know how treacherous you are — you've been called a rebel from birth.

For the sake of my own name, I hold back my anger. For the sake of my reputation, I restrain myself toward you — so I don't cut you off completely.

Look — I've refined you, but not like silver. I've tested you in the furnace of suffering.

For my own sake — for my own sake — I do this. How can I let my name be dragged through the dirt? I will not hand my glory over to anyone else.

Listen to me, Jacob — Israel, the one I called: I am he. I am the first. I am also the last.

My own hand laid the foundation of the earth. My right hand spread out the sky. When I call them, they stand at attention together.

All of you, gather around and listen: Which of your idols predicted any of this? The one Yahweh loves will carry out his purpose against Babylon, and his arm will be against the Chaldeans.

I—I myself have spoken. I have called him. I've brought him, and he will succeed in what I've sent him to do.

Come close to me and hear this: From the very beginning, I have not spoken in secret. From the moment it started happening, I was there. And now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, along with his Breath.

This is what Yahweh says — your rescuer, the one set apart for Israel: I am Yahweh your God, the one who teaches you what's actually good for you, who leads you on the path you should take.

If only you had paid attention to what I commanded — your peace would have been like a river, your justice like the waves of the sea.

Your descendants would have been like the sand, your offspring like its countless grains. Their name would never have been cut off or wiped out from my presence.

Leave Babylon! Run from the Chaldeans! Announce it with shouts of joy — let this be heard. Send it out to the ends of the earth. Say: "Yahweh has rescued his servant Jacob!"

They weren't thirsty when he led them through the wastelands. He made water flow from the rock for them — he split the rock open and water poured out.

"There is no peace," says Yahweh, "for the wicked."