these things before they were revealed to you, for I knew you would be a treacherous people, born into a sinful state.
But in spite of your sinfulness, for my name's sake I will put my anger aside, and for my praise I will not completely destroy you, oh house of Israel, yet I will refine and choose you in the furnace of affliction. I will do this for my own sake, for I will not allow my name to be dishonored nor give my glory to another.
Listen to me, oh house of Jacob, which I have called out of the world, for Iam He who was at the first, and who will be at the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth. My right hand reaches throughout the heavens. I call to them and they obey me at once.
Assemble, all the house of Israel, and listen. Who among you has declared these things to you? It is he, whom I, the Lord, have loved. I will fulfill his prophecies of the house of Israel, and through him bring my justice upon the worldly. I have called and raised him up to prophesy, and he will fulfill his calling well.
These are the words of this servant of the Lord:
"Come near me, for I have spoken openly from the beginning from my first declaration. The Lord God and His Spirit have sent me. The Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says,
- ‘I, the Lord your God, who teaches you for your profit, and who leads you, have sent you my servant.
- If only you had obeyed my commandments--then your peace would have distilled upon you as the dews from
