⁷ The man who carves wood encourages the man who works with gold.
    The workman who smooths the metal with a hammer encourages the man who shapes the metal.
This last workman says, “This metal work is good.”
    He nails the statue to a base so it can’t fall over.

⁸ The Lord says, “People of Israel, you are my servants.
    People of Jacob, I chose you.
You are from the family of my friend Abraham.
⁹ You were far away on the earth.
    I called you from a faraway country.
I said, ‘You are my servants.’
    I have chosen you, and I have not turned against you.