8. Bring out the people who have eyes but don’t see.Bring out those who have ears but don’t hear.
9. All the nations should gather together.All the people should come together.Which of their gods said that this would happen?Which of their gods can tell what happened in the beginning?They should bring their witnesses to prove they were right.Then others will say, “It is true.”
10. The Lord says, “You are my witnesses.You are the servant I chose.I chose you so you would know and believe me.I chose you so you would understand that I am the true God.There was no God before me,and there will be no God after me.
11. I myself am the Lord.I am the only Savior.
12. I myself have spoken to you, saved you and told you these things.It was not some foreign god among you.You are my witnesses, and I am God,”says the Lord.
13. “I have always been God.No one can save people from my power.When I do something, no one can change it.”
14. This is what the Lord says.He is the Holy One of Israel who saves you.He says, “I will send armies to Babylon for you.All the Babylonians will be captured.They will be taken away in their ships they are proud of.
15. I am the Lord, your Holy One.I made Israel. I am your king.”
16. This is what the Lord says.He is the one who made a road through the sea.Even through rough waters he made a path for his people.
17. He is the one who defeated the chariots and horses.He defeated the mighty armies.They fell together, and they will never rise again.They were destroyed as a flame is put out.
18. The Lord says, “Forget what happened before.Do not think about the past.
19. Look at the new thing I am going to do.It is already happening. Don’t you see it?I will make a road in the desert.I will make rivers in the dry land.
20. Even the wild animals will be thankful to me.The wild dogs and owls will honor me.They will honor me when I put water in the desert.They will honor me when I make rivers in the dry land.I will do this to give water to my people, the ones I chose.
21. These are the people I made.And they will sing songs to praise me.
22. “People of Jacob, you have not called to me.People of Israel, you have become tired of me.
23. You have not brought your sacrifices of sheep to me.You have not honored me by bringing sacrifices to me.I did not force you to give sacrifices to me.I did not force you to burn incense until you became tired.