Israel’s only Savior

43 But now, you people of Israel, listen to Yahweh, the one who established your nation.

The one who caused you to become a nation [DOU] says this:

“Do not be afraid,

because I previously rescued you.

I enabled you to have a personal relationship with me [MTY], and you belong to me.

2 When you experience dangerous situations,

and you feel like [MET] you are crossing deep rivers,

I will be with you.

When you have very big troubles/difficulties,

you will [LIT] be able to endure them.

When people try to kill you like they tried to kill Daniel’s three friends by throwing them in a fire,

you will not die, just like Daniel’s three friends were not burned up,

3 because I am Yahweh, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, the one who rescues you.

I will enable the army of the emperor of Persia to conquer Egypt instead of conquering you;

similarly I will enable them to conquer Ethiopia, and Seba in Arabia, in order that you can be saved.

4 I will cause other countries to be conquered, instead of your country;

I will trade them for you,

in order that you will not be killed,

because you are very precious [DOU] to me

and because I love you.

5 Do not be afraid, because I am with you.

Some day I will gather your descendants from the east and from the west.

6 I will command the rulers of the nations to the north and to the south,

‘Allow all the people of Israel to return to their country,

from the most distant places on the earth.

7 Allow all those who belong to me [MTY] to return,

because I have caused them to become a nation in order that they would honor me;

I am the one who has done that [DOU].’

8 Summon the people who have eyes but it is as though they are blind;

summon those who have ears but because they do not listen to me, it is as though they are deaf.

9 Gather people of all nations together,

ones from all people-groups,

and ask them this: ‘Has any of their idols foretold the things that are happening now?

And can any of them predict what will happen in the future?’

Then bring people who will testify and say ‘I heard them predict things,

and what they predicted was what happened,’

but they will be lying.”

10 But Yahweh says, “You people of Israel ◄are my witnesses/know what I have done►,

and you are the ones who serve me.

I chose you in order that you would know me, believe in me,

and understand that I am the only one who is truly God.

There is no other true God.

There was no other true God previously,

and there will never be another true God.

11 I, only I, am Yahweh,

and there is no other one who can save you.

12 I said that I would rescue your ancestors,

and then I rescued them, and I proclaimed that I had done it.

No foreign god among you did that!

And you are witnesses that only I, Yahweh, am God.

13 I am God, the one who has existed forever and who will exist forever;

no one can snatch people from my hand,

and no one can alter/change what I have done.”