Isaiah 48:1-11
1 Hear this, O house of Jacob,who are called by the name of Israel,and who came from the waters of Judah,who swear by the name of the Lordand confess the God of Israel,but not in truth or right. 2 For they call themselves after the holy city,and stay themselves on the God of Israel;the Lord of hosts is his name.
3 “The former things I declared of old;they went out from my mouth, and I announced them;then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. 4 Because I know that you are obstinate,and your neck is an iron sinewand your forehead brass, 5 I declared them to you from of old,before they came to pass I announced them to you,lest you should say, ‘My idol did them,my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’
6 “You have heard; now see all this;and will you not declare it?From this time forth I announce to you new things,hidden things that you have not known. 7 They are created now, not long ago;before today you have never heard of them,lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ 8 You have never heard, you have never known,from of old your ear has not been opened.For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously,and that from before birth you were called a rebel.
9 “For my name's sake I defer my anger;for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,that I may not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,for how should my name be profaned?My glory I will not give to another.
