Isaiah 44  New International Version

⁹ All who make idols^(AC) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(AD)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(AE)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(AF)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(AG)
    which can profit nothing?^(AH)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;^(AI)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(AJ)

¹² The blacksmith^(AK) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.^(AL)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(AM)
13 The carpenter^(AN) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,^(AO)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(AP)
14 He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,^(AQ) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵ It is used as fuel^(AR) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships^(AS) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(AT) down to it.
¹⁶ Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.^(AU)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(AV)
He prays^(AW) to it and says,
    “Save^(AX) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(AY) nothing;
    their eyes^(AZ) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding^(BA) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(BB)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(BC) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(BD)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(BE) a deluded^(BF) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(BG)”

²¹ “Remember^(BH) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.^(BI)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(BJ)
    Israel, I will not forget you.^(BK)
22 I have swept away^(BL) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(BM) to me,
    for I have redeemed^(BN) you.”

²³ Sing for joy,^(BO) you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth^(BP) beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,^(BQ)
    you forests and all your trees,^(BR)
for the Lord has redeemed^(BS) Jacob,
    he displays his glory^(BT) in Israel.

I am the Lord,
    the Maker of all things,
    who stretches out the heavens,^(BX)
    who spreads out the earth^(BY) by myself,
²⁵ who foils^(BZ) the signs of false prophets
    and makes fools of diviners,^(CA)
who overthrows the learning of the wise^(CB)
    and turns it into nonsense,^(CC)
26 who carries out the words^(CD) of his servants
    and fulfills^(CE) the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem,^(CF) ‘It shall be inhabited,’
    of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’
    and of their ruins,^(CG) ‘I will restore them,’^(CH)
27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry,
    and I will dry up^(CI) your streams,’
²⁸ who says of Cyrus,^(CJ) ‘He is my shepherd
    and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem,^(CK) “Let it be rebuilt,”
    and of the temple,^(CL) “Let its foundations^(CM) be laid.”’