Isaiah 44

The LORD declares that He will pour out His Spirit on the descendants of Jacob, and they shall spring up like willows by the watercourses. He is the first and the last, and beside Him there is no God. Isaiah mocks those who make idols from a block of wood -- half they burn for fire and half they worship. The LORD will redeem Jacob and declares Cyrus His shepherd.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:	Yet now hear, O Jacob My servant — Israel, whom I have chosen!
2	Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.	Thus says the LORD Who made You, who formed You from the womb and will help You: "Do not fear, O Jacob My servant — Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3	For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:	For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on Your offspring and My blessing on Your descendants.
4	And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.	They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.
5	One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.	One shall say, 'I am the LORD's'; another shall call Himself by the name of Jacob; yet another shall write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and name Himself by the name of Israel."
6	Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.	Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides Me there is no God.
7	And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.	Who is like Me? Let Him proclaim it. Let Him declare and lay it out before Me — who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be.
8	Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.	Do not fear or be afraid. Have I not told You from of old and declared it? You are My witnesses! Is there a God besides Me? There is no Rock; I know not any."
9	They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.	All who make carved idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Their witnesses see nothing and know nothing — so they will be put to shame.
10	Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?	Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?
11	Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.	All His companions shall be put to shame; the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble and stand. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.
12	The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.	The ironsmith takes a tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works it with His strong arm. He grows hungry, and His strength fails. He drinks no water and is faint.
13	The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.	The carpenter measures with a line and marks it with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man, with the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.
14	He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.	He cuts down cedars — or chooses a cypress or an oak — letting it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.
15	Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.	Then it becomes fuel for a man — he takes part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. He also makes a god and worships it; He makes a carved image and bows down to it.
16	He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:	Half of it He burns in the fire. With that half He roasts meat and is satisfied. He also warms Himself and says, "I am warm; I have seen the fire!"
17	And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.	The other half He makes into a god — His idol. He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for You are my god!"
18	They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.	They do not know; they do not understand. Their eyes are closed so they cannot see, and their hearts, so they cannot understand.
19	And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?	No one reflects, no one has knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire. I also baked bread on its coals and roasted meat and ate it. Shall I make the rest of it detestable? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?"
20	He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?	He is feeding on ashes; a deluded heart has led Him astray. He cannot deliver Himself or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"
21	Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.	Remember these things, O Jacob — and Israel, for you are My servant. I formed you; you are My servant. O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.
22	I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.	I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
23	Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.	Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, O depths of the earth! Break forth in singing, O mountains — O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and glorified himself in Israel.
24	Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;	Thus says the LORD, Your Redeemer — who formed You from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by Myself,
25	That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;	who foils the omens of boasters and makes diviners look foolish, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge nonsense,
26	That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:	who confirms the word of His servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers — who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,' and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins,'
27	That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:	who says to the deep, 'Be dry; I will dry up Your rivers,'
28	That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.	who says of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd, and he shall carry out all My purpose, saying of Jerusalem, "She shall be built," and of the temple, "Your foundation shall be laid." ' "