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."