Isaiah 48:1-11 ▼

1 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, Who are called by the name of Israel, And are come forth out of the fountain of Judah; Who swear by the name of the LORD, And make mention of the God of Israel, But not in truth, nor in righteousness.

2 For they call themselves of the holy city, And stay themselves upon the God of Israel, The LORD of hosts is His name.

3 I have declared the former things from of old; Yea, they went forth out of My mouth, and I announced them; Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.

4 Because I knew that thou art obstinate, And thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;

5 Therefore I have declared it to thee from of old; Before it came to pass I announced it to thee; Lest thou shouldest say: 'Mine idol hath done them, And my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.'

6 Thou hast heard, see, all this; And ye, will ye not declare it? I have announced unto thee new things from this time, Even hidden things, which thou hast not known.

7 They are created now, and not from of old, And before this day thou heardest them not; Lest thou shouldest say: 'Behold, I knew them.'

8 Yea, thou heardest not; Yea, thou knewest not; Yea, from of old thine ear was not opened; For I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, And wast called a transgressor from the womb.

9 For My name's sake will I defer Mine anger, And for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have tried thee in the furnace of affliction.

11 For Mine own sake, for Mine own sake, will I do it; For how should it be profaned? And My glory will I not give to another.