Long I held peace, shall it for ever be? Who pants for breath, nor can her voice restrain. I will make barren all the hills and mountains, So that each verdant herb thereon shall die; There shall be deserts where were pleasant fountains, By ways unknown to them will lead the blind, They for shame have hid their face, In graven images their trust who place, Hear, O ye deaf! Ye blind, look steadfastly! As he that hath my law, who deaf and blind? The Lord would call to mind his word of old, A spoil they are, in vain they help implore, Who is among you that will hear this word, He sent on them the flame, He left them for a prey; For nothing would their stubborn hearts reclaim; They would not turn, nor see the error of their way. CHAPTER XLIII YET now thus saith the Lord Who formed thee, Jacob, thee, O Israel: Yea, thou art mine, I call thee by my name. Shouldst thou pass through the waters, these I quell, And through the rivers, I am still with thee; Though in the fire, thou shalt not feel the flame, It shall not scorch; in safety thou shalt be. I am the Lord of earth and heaven, Because I unto thee have favour shown, Therefore will I give nations for thy race; And from the east thy children will I sever, Withhold not!" to the south I will proclaim. Yea, from afar bring forth my sons to me, Bring forth those who are blind, and yet have eyes; And be assembled every different nation. Say which, of all the host, this work declares; Ye are my witnesses, Jehovah saith, Even my chosen ones, whom I have named, Ye sons of men, your God behold in me; My purpose I foretell, and I will save; I call you as my witnesses to stand, And there is none can rescue from my hand. I work-who shall reverse my fixed decree? Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeeming One: Thus saith Jehovah, Who made for thee A pathway in the sea, And through the mighty waters led thee over; Who summoned forth the rider and the horse, and the power; The army Together have they sped their course, They rise again no more; Their days are done; Yea, even as a torch whose light is gone. 4 Do ye not bring to mind the things of old? Lo! new events are springing into light! The desert, streams of water shall display: To me the savage creatures raise their voice; The dragons, the young ostriches rejoice; For I have given waters to the waste, Whom I have formed, who shall recount my praise. |