Isaiah 44 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

But now listen, Jacob, my servant — Israel, the one I chose:

This is what Yahweh says — the one who made you, who shaped you in the womb, the one who will help you: Don't be afraid, Jacob my servant, Jeshurun, the one I chose.

I will pour water on thirsty ground, streams on the dry earth. I will pour my breath on your children, my gift on your descendants.

They will spring up like grass among streams, like willows by flowing water.

One will say, 'I belong to Yahweh.' Another will take the name Jacob. Another will write on their hand, 'Yahweh's,' and take the name Israel.

This is what Yahweh says — Israel's King and Rescuer, Yahweh the Commander of angel armies: I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me.

Who is like me? Let them speak up. Let them lay it all out before me. Who has announced what's coming since I established an ancient people? Let them tell us what's still ahead.

Don't tremble. Don't be afraid. Didn't I tell you long ago? Didn't I announce it? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? There is no other Rock. I know of none.

Everyone who makes an idol — they're nothing. The things they treasure are worthless. Their own witnesses can't see and can't think, so they end up humiliated.

Who shapes a god or casts an idol that can't do anything at all?

Look — everyone involved will be humiliated. The craftsmen are just humans. Let them all gather and take their stand— they'll be terrified and humiliated together.

The blacksmith takes his tool and works the metal over coals. He shapes it with hammers, forges it with his strong arm. Then he gets hungry and his strength gives out. He doesn't drink water and he's exhausted.

The woodworker stretches a measuring line, traces a shape with chalk. He carves it with chisels, marks it with a compass. He shapes it to look like a person — a beautiful human form — so it can sit in a shrine.

He cuts down cedars for himself. He picks out a cypress or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine tree and the rain makes it grow.

Then it becomes fuel for a person to burn. He takes some of it and warms himself. He also lights a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it. He carves an idol and bows down to it.

He burns half of it in the fire. Over that half he roasts meat and eats his fill. He warms himself and says, 'Ah, I'm warm — I can feel the fire.'

And the rest of it he makes into a god — his idol. He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, 'Rescue me! You are my god!'

They don't know. They don't understand. Their eyes are plastered shut so they can't see. Their minds are closed so they can't think.

No one stops to think. No one has the knowledge or sense to say, 'I burned half of it in the fire. I even baked bread over the coals. I roasted meat and ate it. Should I make the leftovers into something disgusting? Should I bow down to a block of wood?'

He feeds on ashes. His deceived mind has led him astray. He can't save himself, and he won't say, 'Isn't this thing in my right hand a lie?'

Remember these things, Jacob. Remember, Israel — you are my servant. I shaped you. You are my servant. Israel, I will not forget you.

I have swept away your rebellion like a cloud, your failures like morning fog. Come back to me, because I have bought you back.

Shout for joy, you heavens — Yahweh has done it! Roar, you depths of the earth! Break out in song, you mountains, you forests and every tree! Because Yahweh has bought Jacob back, and he shows his magnificence through Israel.

This is what Yahweh says— your Rescuer, the one who shaped you in the womb: I am Yahweh, the maker of everything. I stretched out the heavens by myself. I spread out the earth alone.

I expose the signs of false prophets as nonsense and make fools of fortune-tellers. I reverse the words of the wise and turn their knowledge into foolishness.

But I confirm the word of my servant and fulfill what my messengers announce. I say of Jerusalem, 'She will be inhabited,' and of the towns of Judah, 'They will be rebuilt— I will restore their ruins.'

I say to the deep waters, 'Dry up — I will make your rivers run dry.'

I say of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he will accomplish everything I want.' He will say of Jerusalem, 'Let it be rebuilt,' and of the temple, 'Let its foundations be laid.'