Israel the Chosen " But now listen , Jacob , my servant , Israel , whom I have chosen . This is what the Lord says — he who made you , who formed you in the womb , and who will help you : Do not be afraid , Jacob , my servant , Jeshurun , whom I have chosen . For I will pour water on the thirsty land , and streams on the dry ground ; I will pour out my spirit on your offspring , and my blessing on your descendants . They will spring up like grass in a meadow , like poplar trees by flowing streams . Some will say , ' I belong to the Lord '; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob ; still other will write on their hand , ' The Lord ' s and will take the name Israel . The Lord , Not Idols " This is what the Lord says — Israel ' s King and Redeemer , the Lord Almighty : I am the first and I am the last ; apart from me there is no God . Who then is like me ? Let him proclaim it . Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people , and what is yet to come — yes , let them foretell what will come . Do not tremble , do not be afraid . Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago ? You are my witnesses . Is there any God besides me ? No , there is no other Rock ; I know not one . " All who make idols are nothing , and the things they treasure are worthless . Those who would speak up for them are blind ; they are ignorant , to their own shame . Who shapes a god and casts an idol , which can profit nothing ? People who do what will be put to shame ; such craftsmen are only human beings . Let them are come together and take their stand ; they will be brought down to terror and shame . The blacksmith 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 . He gets hungry and loses his strength ; he drinks no water and grows faint . The carpenter 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 , human from in all its glory , that it may dwell in a shrine . 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 , and the rain made it grow . It is used as fuel 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 it ; he makes an idol and bows down to it . 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 . " From the rest he makes a god , his idol ; he bows down to it and worships . He prays to it and says , " Save me ! You are my god ! " They know nothing , they understand nothing ; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see , and their minds closes so they cannot understand . No one stops to think , no one has the knowledge or understanding to say , " Half of it I used for fuel ; I even baked bread over it s coals , I roasted meat and I ate . Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left ? Shall I bow down to a block of wood ? " Such a person feeds on ashes ; a deluded heart misleads him ; he cannot save himself , or say , " Is not this thing in my right hand a lie ? " " Remember these things , Jacob , for you , Israel , are my servant . I have made you , you are my servant ; Israel , I will not forget you . I have swept away your offenses like a cloud , your sins like the morning mist . Return to me , for I have redeemed you . " Sing for joy , you heavens , for the Lord has done this ; shout aloud , you earth beneath . Burst into song , you mountains , you forests and all your trees , for the Lord has redeemed Jacob , he displays his glory in Israel . Jerusalem to Be Inhabited " This is what the Lord says — your Redeemer , who formed you in the womb : I am the Lord , the Maker of all things , who stretches out the heavens , who spreads out the earth by myself , who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners , who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense , who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers , who says of Jerusalem , ' It shall be inhabited , ' of he towns of Judah , ' They shall be rebuilt , ' and of their ruins , ' I will restore them , ' who says to the watery deep , ' Be dry , and I will dry up your streams , ' who says of Cyrus , ' He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please ; he will say of Jerusalem , " Let it be rebuilt , " and of the temple , " Let its foundations be laid . '"