17. But Israel is saved by the Lordwith everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confoundedto all eternity.
18. For thus says the Lord,who created the heavens(he is God!),who formed the earth and made it(he established it;he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!):“I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19. I did not speak in secret,in a land of darkness;I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’I the Lord speak the truth;I declare what is right.
20. “Assemble yourselves and come;draw near together,you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledgewho carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a godthat cannot save.
21. Declare and present your case;let them take counsel together!Who told this long ago?Who declared it of old?Was it not I, the Lord?And there is no other god besides me,a righteous God and a Savior;there is none besides me.
22. “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth!For I am God, and there is no other.
23. By myself I have sworn;from my mouth has gone out in righteousnessa word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow,every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
24. “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,are righteousness and strength;to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him.