Isaiah 48:12-16

48:12 Listen to me, O Jacob,

Israel, whom I summoned!

I am the one;

I am present at the very beginning

and at the very end. ¹ 

48:13 Yes, my hand founded the earth;

my right hand spread out the sky.

I summon them;

they stand together.

48:14 All of you, gather together and listen!

Who among them ²  announced these things?

The Lord’s ally ³  will carry out his desire against Babylon;

he will exert his power against the Babylonians. ⁴ 

48:15 I, I have spoken –

yes, I have summoned him;

I lead him and he will succeed. ⁵ 

48:16 Approach me! Listen to this!

From the very first I have not spoken in secret;

when it happens, ⁶  I am there.”

So now, the sovereign Lord has sent me, accompanied by his spirit. ⁷ 

[48:12]  ¹ tn Heb “I [am] he, I [am the] first, also I [am the] last.”

[48:14]  ² sn This probably refers to the idol gods (see v. 5).

[48:14]  ³ tn Or “friend,” or “covenant partner.”

[48:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “and his arm [against] the Babylonians.”

[48:15]  ³ tn Heb “and his way will be prosperous.”

[48:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the time of its occurring.”

[48:16]  ⁵ sn The speaker here is not identified specifically, but he is probably Cyrus, the Lord’s “ally” mentioned in vv. 14-15.