19. The maker of idols hasn't the wit or the sense to say, “Some of the wood I burnt up. I baked some bread on the embers and I roasted meat and ate it. And the rest of the wood I made into an idol. Here I am bowing down to a block of wood!”
20. It makes as much sense as eating ashes. His foolish ideas have so misled him that he is beyond help. He won't admit to himself that the idol he holds in his hand is not a god at all.
21. The Lord says,“Israel, remember this;remember that you are my servant.I created you to be my servant,and I will never forget you.
22. I have swept your sins away like a cloud.Come back to me; I am the one who saves you.”
23. Shout for joy, you heavens!Shout, deep places of the earth!Shout for joy, mountains, and every tree of the forest!The Lord has shown his greatnessby saving his people Israel.
24. “I am the Lord, your saviour;I am the one who created you.I am the Lord, the Creator of all things.I alone stretched out the heavens;when I made the earth, no one helped me.
25. I make fools of fortune tellersand frustrate the predictions of astrologers.The words of the wise I refuteand show that their wisdom is foolishness.
26. But when my servant makes a prediction,when I send a messenger to reveal my plans,I make those plans and predictions come true.I tell Jerusalem that people will live there again,and the cities of Judah that they will be rebuilt.Those cities will rise from the ruins.
27. With a word of command I dry up the ocean.