Isaiah 48 - International Children’s Bible (ICB)

God Controls the Future

48 The Lord says, “Family of Jacob, listen to me.
You are called Israel.
You come from the family of Judah.
You use the Lord’s name to make promises.
You praise the God of Israel,
but you are not honest or sincere.
2 You call yourselves people of the holy city.
You depend on the God of Israel.
He is named the Lord of heaven’s armies.
3 Long ago I told you what would happen.
I said these things and made them known.
Suddenly I acted, and these things happened.
4 I did that because I knew you were stubborn.
Your neck was like an iron muscle.
It was as if your head were made of bronze.
5 So a long time ago I told you about these things.
I told you about them before they happened.
I did this so you couldn’t say, ‘My idols did this.
My wooden and metal statues made these things happen.’

6 “You heard and saw all the things that happened.
So you should tell this news to others.
Now I will tell you about new things.
These are hidden things that you don’t know yet.
7 These things are happening now, not long ago.
You have not heard about them before today.
So you cannot say, ‘We already knew about that.’
8 But you have not heard me. You have not understood.
Even long ago you did not listen to me.
I knew you would surely turn against me.
You have fought against me since you were born.
9 But for my own sake I will be patient.
People will praise me for not becoming angry
and destroying you.
10 I have made you pure, but not by fire, as silver is made pure.
I have purified you by giving you troubles.
11 I do this for myself, for my own sake.
I will not let people speak evil against me.
I will not let some false god take my glory.

Israel Will Be Free

12 “People of Jacob, listen to me.
People of Israel, I have called you to be my people.
I am God.
I am the beginning and the end.
13 I made the earth with my own hands.
With my right hand I spread out the skies.
When I call them,
they come together before me.

14 “All of you, come together and listen.
None of the false gods said these things would happen.
I, the Lord, have chosen someone
to attack the Babylonians.
He will carry out my wishes against Babylon.
15 I have spoken. I have called him.[a]
I have brought him, and I will make him successful.
16 Come to me and listen to this.
From the beginning I have spoken openly.
From the time it began, I was there.”

Now, the Lord God
has sent me with his Spirit.

17 The Lord is your close relative who saves you, the Holy One of Israel.
The Lord says,
“I am the Lord your God.
I teach you to do what is good.
I lead you in the way you should go.
18 If you had obeyed me,
you would have had peace like a full-flowing river.
Good things would have flowed to you like the waves of the sea.
19 You would have had many children.
They would have been as many as the grains of sand.
They would never have died out.
They would not have been destroyed.”

20 My people, leave Babylon!
Run from the Babylonians!
Tell this news with shouts of joy to the people.
Spread it everywhere on earth.
Say, “The Lord has saved
his servants, the people of Jacob.”
21 They did not become thirsty when he led them through the deserts.
He made water flow from a rock for them.
He split the rock,
and water flowed out.

22 “There is no peace for evil people,” says the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. 48:15 him This probably refers to Cyrus king of Persia.

You Might Also Like:

Isaiah 48 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

48 Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, Who are called by the name of Israel, And from the waters of Judah came out, Who are swearing by the name of Jehovah, And of the God of Israel make mention, Not in truth nor in righteousness. 2 For from the Holy City they have been called, And on the God of Israel ...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

48 The house of Jacob, that be called by the name of Israel, and went out of the waters of Judah, hear these things, which swear in the name of the Lord, and have mind on God of Israel, not in truth, neither in rightfulness. (Hear ye these things, the house of Jacob, who be called by the name of Isr...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - World English Bible (WEB)

48 “Hear this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and have come out of the waters of Judah.You swear by Yahweh’s name, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness—2 for they call themselves citizens of the holy city, and rely on the God of Isr...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - The Voice (VOICE)

48 Listen closely, you descendants of Jacob who are called Israel! Hear this, you who trace your ancestors back to Judah,Who take oaths in the name of the Eternal, and call on the God of Israel, but do so dishonestly and inappropriately:2 Your identity is wrapped up in the holy city, and you claim t...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Who Foretold These Things?48 Hear this, house of Jacob,who are called by the Name of Israel,who came from the wellspring of Judah,who swear by the Name of Adonaiand confess the God of Israel—but not in truth or righteousness.2 For they call themselves by the holy city,and lean on the God of Israel,A...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

God the Creator and Redeemer48 Hear this, O house of Jacob,who are called by the name of Israel, and who came forth from the loins[a] of Judah;who swear by the name of the Lord, and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.2 For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselv...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

God the Creator and Redeemer48 Hear this, O house of Jacob,who are called by the name of Israel, and who came forth from the loins[a] of Judah;who swear by the name of the Lord, and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.2 For they call themselves after the holy city, and stay themselv...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

God the Creator and Redeemer48 Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came forth from the loins[a] of Judah;who swear by the name of the Lord, and invoke the God of Israel, but not in truth or right.2 For they call themselves after the holy city, and lean on the G...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

God the Creator and Redeemer48 Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel and who came forth from the loins[a] of Judah,who swear by the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel but not in truth or right.(A)2 For they call themselves after the holy city and lean on the Go...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New Living Translation (NLT)

God’s Stubborn People48 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and born into the family of Judah.Listen, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and call on the God of Israel.You don’t keep your promises,2 even though you call yourself the holy cityand talk ab...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New Life Version (NLV)

Israel Is Not Faithful in Following the Lord48 “Hear this, O family of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who come from the seed of Judah. They make promises in the name of the Lord, and call upon the God of Israel, but not in truth or by what is right and good. 2 For they call themse...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Israel Refined for God’s Glory48 “Hear this, O house of Jacob,Who are called by the name of Israel,And have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah;Who swear by the name of the Lord,And make mention of the God of Israel,But (A)not in truth or in righteousness;2 For they call themselves (B)after the...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Stubborn Israel48 ‘Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah,you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel – but not in truth or righteousness –2 you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city and c...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New International Version (NIV)

Stubborn Israel48 “Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel(A) and come from the line of Judah,(B)you who take oaths(C) in the name of the Lord(D) and invoke(E) the God of Israel— but not in truth(F) or righteousness—2 you who call yourselves citizens of the...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Israel Is Stubborn48 People of Jacob, listen to me. You are called by the name of Israel. You come from the family line of Judah.You make promises in the name of the Lord. You pray to Israel’s God.But you aren’t honest. You don’t mean what you say.2 You call yourselves citizens of the holy city of J...
Read More

Isaiah 48 - New English Translation (NET)

The Lord Appeals to the Exiles48 Listen to this, O family of Jacob,[a]you who are called by the name ‘Israel,’and are descended from Judah,[b]who take oaths in the name of the Lord,and invoke[c] the God of Israel—but not in an honest and just manner.[d]2 Indeed, they live in the holy city;[e]they tr...
Read More