Read The Message Isaiah 48 Bible Online

Isaiah 48 - The Message bible

Isaiah 48

¹“And now listen to this, family of Jacob, you who are called by the name Israel: Who got you started in the loins of Judah, you who use GOD’s name to back up your promises and pray to the God of Israel? But do you mean it? Do you live like it? You claim to be citizens of the Holy City; you act as though you lean on the God of Israel, named GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. For a long time now, I’ve let you in on the way I work: I told you what I was going to do beforehand, then I did it and it was done, and that’s that. I know you’re a bunch of hardheads, obstinate and flint-faced, So I got a running start and began telling you what was going on before it even happened. That is why you can’t say, ‘My god-idol did this.’ ‘My favorite god-carving commanded this.’ You have all this evidence confirmed by your own eyes and ears. Shouldn’t you be talking about it?<(...)

¹²“Listen, Jacob. Listen, Israel— I’m the One who named you! I’m the One. I got things started and, yes, I’ll wrap them up. Earth is my work, handmade. And the skies—I made them, too, horizon to horizon. When I speak, they’re on their feet, at attention.

¹⁴“Come everybody, gather around, listen: Who among the gods has delivered the news? I, GOD, love this man Cyrus, and I’m using him to do what I want with Babylon. I, yes I, have spoken. I’ve called him. I’ve brought him here. He’ll be successful. Come close, listen carefully: I’ve never kept secrets from you. I’ve always been present with you.”

¹⁶And now, the Master, GOD, sends me and his Spirit with this Message from GOD your Redeemer, The Holy of Israel: “I am GOD, your God, who teaches you how to live right and well. I show you what to do, where to go. If you had listened all along to what I told you, your life would have flowed full like a river, blessings rolling in like waves from the sea. Children and grandchildren are like sand, your progeny like grains of sand. There would be no end of them, no danger of losing touch with me.”

²⁰Get out of Babylon! Run from the Babylonians! Shout the news. Broadcast it. Let the world know, the whole world. Tell them, “GOD redeemed his dear servant Jacob!”

²¹They weren’t thirsty when he led them through the deserts. He made water pour out of the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed.

²²“There is no peace,” says GOD, “for the wicked.”