17. And the rest of it he makes into a god,into his idol,and he bows down, worships, and prays to it, saying, "Save me, for you are my god!"
18. They don’t know or comprehend,for their eyes can’t seeand their minds can’t comprehend.
19. He doesn’t think,and has no knowledge or understanding to think:Half of it I burned in the fire,and I baked bread on its coals,and roasted meat and ate.Should I make the rest into something detestable?Should I bow down to a block of wood?
20. He’s feeding on ashes;his deluded mind has led him astray.He can’t save himself and say,"Isn’t this thing in my hand a lie?"
21. Remember these things, Jacob;Israel, for you are my servant.I formed you; you are my servant!I won’t forget you, Israel.
22. I swept away your rebellions like a cloud,and your sins like fog.Return to me,because I have redeemed you.
23. Sing, heavens, for the Lord has acted;shout, depths of the earth!Burst out with a ringing cry,you mountains, forest, and every tree in it.The Lord has redeemed Jacob,and will glorify himself through Israel.
24. The Lord your redeemerwho formed you in the womb says:I am the Lord, the maker of all,who alone stretched out the heavens,who spread out the earth by myself,
25. who frustrates the omens of divinersand makes a mockery of magicians,who turns back the wiseand turns their knowledge into folly.
26. But who confirms the word of my servant,and fulfills the predictions of my messengers;who says about Jerusalem, "It will be resettled";and who says about the cities of Judah, "They will be rebuilt,and I will restore their ruins";
27. who says to the ocean depths,"Dry up; I will dry your streams";
28. who says about Cyrus, "My shepherd—he will do all that I want";who says about Jerusalem,"She will be rebuilt";and who says about the temple,"You will be founded once again."