1Listen to this, people of Israel, you that are descended from Judah. You swear by the name of Jehovah and claim to worship the God of Israel. However you do not mean a word you say. 2Yet you are proud to say that you are citizens of the holy city and that you depend on Israel's God, whose name is Jehovah of Hosts. 3Jehovah says to Israel: »Long ago I predicted what would take place. Then suddenly I made it happen. 4»I knew that you would prove to be stubborn. You were as rigid as iron and unyielding as copper. 5»I predicted your future long ago. I announced events before they took place, to keep you from claiming that your idols and images made them happen. 6»All I foretold has now taken place. You have to admit my predictions were right. Now I will tell you of new things to come, events that I did not reveal before. 7They are created now, not in the past. You have not heard about them before today, so you cannot say that you already knew about them. 8»You have never heard about them. You have never known about them. Your ears have never been open to hear them before. I know that you have acted very treacherously and that you have been called a rebel since you were born. 9»For my name's sake I will be patient. For my glory's sake I will hold my anger back from you, and not destroy you. 10»I have been testing you for myself like silver. I have put you through the fire of trouble. 11»I did it for myself and because of my name. I will not let my name be shamed profaned. I will not give my glory to another. 12»Listen to me Jacob and Israel, my loved one. I am he, I am the first and I am the last. 13»My hand laid the foundation of the earth. My right hand stretched out the heavens. When I call for them, they both stand. 14»Gather together, all of you, and listen. What idol has revealed such things? Jehovah loves Cyrus. He will carry out Jehovah’s plan against Babylon. He will use his strength against the Babylonians. 15»I alone have spoken. I have called him. I will bring him here and he will succeed. 16»Come here. Listen to this! From the beginning I have spoken nothing in private. From the time it took place, I was there. Now the Lord Jehovah has sent me, and his Spirit. 17This is what Jehovah your Defender Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says: »I am Jehovah your God. I teach you what is best for you. I lead you where you should go. 18»If only you had listened to my commandments! Your peace would be like a river that never runs dry. Your righteousness would be like waves on the sea. 19»Your descendants would be like sand. Your children would be like its grains. Their names would not be cut off or wiped out in my presence.« 20Get out of Babylon! Flee from the Babylonians! Shout for joy as you tell it and announce it. Shout it out to the ends of the earth. Say: »Jehovah has reclaimed his servant Jacob. 21»They were not thirsty when he led them through the deserts. He made water flow from a rock for them. He split a rock, and water gushed out. 22»There is no peace for the wicked,« says Jehovah.