5. Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will bring your people back from the east. I will gather you from the west.
6. I will say to the north, 'Let them go!' And I will say to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from far away. Bring my daughters from the farthest places on earth.
7. Bring back everyone who belongs to me. I created them to bring glory to me. I formed them and made them."
8. Lead my people into court. They have eyes but can't see. Bring those who have ears but can't hear.
9. All of the nations are gathering together. All of them are coming. Which one of their gods said ahead of time that the people of Israel would return? Which of them told us anything at all about the past? Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right. Then others will hear them. And they will say, "What they said is true."
10. "People of Israel, you are my witnesses," announces the Lord. "I have chosen you to be my servants. I wanted you to know me and believe in me. I wanted you to understand that I am the one and only God. Before me, there was no other god at all. And there will not be any god after me.
11. I am the one and only Lord. I am the only one who can save you.
12. I have made known what would happen. I told you about it. And I saved you. I did it. It was not some other god you worship. You are my witnesses that I am God," announces the Lord.
13. "And that is not all! I have always been God, and I always will be. No one can save people from my powerful hand. When I do something, who can undo it?"
14. The Lord sets his people free. He is the Holy One of Israel. He says, "People of Israel, I will send an army to Babylon to save you. I will cause all of the Babylonians to run away. They will try to escape in the ships they were so proud of.
15. I am your Lord and King. I am your Holy One. I created you."
16. Long ago the Lord opened a way for his people to go through the Red Sea. He made a path through the mighty waters.
17. He caused Egypt to send out its chariots and horses. He sent its entire army to its death. Its soldiers lay down there. They never got up again. They were destroyed. They were blown out like a dimly burning flame. But the Lord says,