18. They don’t know, neither do they consider:for he has shut their eyes, that they can’t see;and their hearts, that they can’t understand.
19. No one thinks,neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,“I have burnt part of it in the fire.Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals.I have roasted meat and eaten it.Shall I make the rest of it into an abomination?Shall I bow down to a tree trunk?”
20. He feeds on ashes.A deceived heart has turned him aside;and he can’t deliver his soul,nor say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?”
21. Remember these things, Jacob and Israel;for you are my servant.I have formed you.You are my servant.Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.
22. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions,and, as a cloud, your sins.Return to me, for I have redeemed you.
23. Sing, you heavens, for the Lord has done it!Shout, you lower parts of the earth!Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees,for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,and will glorify himself in Israel.
24. the Lord, your Redeemer,and he who formed you from the womb says:“I am the Lord, who makes all things;who alone stretches out the heavens;who spreads out the earth by myself;
25. who frustrates the signs of the liars,and makes diviners mad;who turns wise men backward,and makes their knowledge foolish;
26. who confirms the word of his servant,and performs the counsel of his messengers;who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited;’and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be built,’and ‘I will raise up its waste places;’
27. who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’and ‘I will dry up your rivers;’
28. Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,’even saying of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built;’and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’”