16. All craftsmen who make idols will be humiliated.They will all be disgraced together.
17. But the lord will save the people of Israelwith eternal salvation.Throughout everlasting ages,they will never again be humiliated and disgraced.
18. For the lord is God,and he created the heavens and earthand put everything in place.He made the world to be lived in,not to be a place of empty chaos.“I am the lord,” he says,“and there is no other.
19. I publicly proclaim bold promises.I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.I would not have told the people of Israel to seek meif I could not be found.I, the lord, speak only what is trueand declare only what is right.
20. “Gather together and come,you fugitives from surrounding nations.What fools they are who carry around their wooden idolsand pray to gods that cannot save!
21. Consult together, argue your case.Get together and decide what to say.Who made these things known so long ago?What idol ever told you they would happen?Was it not I, the lord?For there is no other God but me,a righteous God and Savior.There is none but me.
22. Let all the world look to me for salvation!For I am God; there is no other.
23. I have sworn by my own name;I have spoken the truth,and I will never go back on my word:Every knee will bend to me,and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”
24. The people will declare,“The lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.”And all who were angry with himwill come to him and be ashamed.
25. In the lord all the generations of Israel will be justified,and in him they will boast.