1-4. But now, God’s Message,the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,the One who got you started, Israel:“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.I’ve called your name. You’re mine.When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.When you’re between a rock and a hard place,it won’t be a dead end—Because I am God, your personal God,The Holy of Israel, your Savior.I paid a huge price for you:all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!That’s how much you mean to me!That’s how much I love you!I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,trade the creation just for you.
14-15. God, your Redeemer,The Holy of Israel, says:“Just for you, I will march on Babylon.I’ll turn the tables on the Babylonians.Instead of whooping it up,they’ll be wailing.I am God, your Holy One,Creator of Israel, your King.”
16-21. This is what God says,the God who builds a road right through the ocean,who carves a path through pounding waves,The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—they lie down and then can’t get up;they’re snuffed out like so many candles:“Forget about what’s happened;don’t keep going over old history.Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,rivers in the badlands.Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’—the coyotes and the buzzards—Because I provided water in the desert,rivers through the sun-baked earth,Drinking water for the people I chose,the people I made especially for myself,a people custom-made to praise me.
22-24. “But you didn’t pay a bit of attention to me, Jacob.You so quickly tired of me, Israel.You wouldn’t even bring sheep for offerings in worship.You couldn’t be bothered with sacrifices.It wasn’t that I asked that much from you.I didn’t expect expensive presents.But you didn’t even do the minimum—so stingy with me, so closefisted.Yet you haven’t been stingy with your sins.You’ve been plenty generous with them—and I’m fed up.