<p class="poetry">For the fortress is neglected;p> <p class="poetry">the once-crowded<n id="1" /> city is abandoned.p> <p class="poetry">Hill<n id="2" /> and watchtowerp> <p class="poetry">are permanently uninhabited.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Wild donkeys love to go there,p> <p class="poetry">and flocks graze there.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">For the <sc>Lordsc> is angry at all the nationsp> <p class="poetry">and furious with all their armies.p> <p class="poetry">He will annihilate them and slaughter them.p>

<p class="poetry">Then the lame will leap like a deer,p> <p class="poetry">the mute tongue will shout for joy;p> <p class="poetry">for water will flow<n id="1" /> in the desert,p> <p class="poetry">streams in the wilderness.<n id="2" />p>

Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk.<n id="1" /> In whom are you trusting, that you would dare to rebel against me?

Who among all the gods of these lands have rescued their lands from my power? So how can the <sc>Lordsc> rescue Jerusalem from my power?&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />

Now, O <sc>Lordsc> our God, rescue us from his power, so all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Look, the grief I experienced was for my benefit.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">You delivered me<n id="2" /> from the pit of oblivion.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For you removed all my sins from your sight.<n id="4" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered.

Hezekiah said to Isaiah, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s word which you have announced is appropriate.&#8221;<n id="1" /> Then he thought,<n id="2" /> &#8220;For<n id="3" /> there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">I will do this so<n id="1" /> people<n id="2" /> will observe and recognize,p> <p class="poetry">so they will pay attention and understandp> <p class="poetry">that the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s power<n id="3" /> has accomplished this,p> <p class="poetry">and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Predict how future events will turn out,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">so we might know you are gods.p> <p class="poetry">Yes, do something good or bad,p> <p class="poetry">so we might be frightened and in awe.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">My servant is truly blind,p> <p class="poetry">my messenger is truly deaf.p> <p class="poetry">My covenant partner,<n id="1" /> the servant of the <sc>Lordsc>, is truly blind.<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Now, this is what the <sc>Lordsc> says,p> <p class="poetry">the one who created you, O Jacob,p> <p class="poetry">and formed you, O Israel:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Don&#8217;t be afraid, for I will protect<n id="1" /> you.p> <p class="poetry">I call you by name, you are mine.p>

<p class="poetry">For I am the <sc>Lordsc> your God,p> <p class="poetry">the Holy One of Israel,<n id="1" /> your deliverer.p> <p class="poetry">I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price,p> <p class="poetry">Ethiopia and Seba<n id="2" /> in place of you.p>

<p class="poetry">The wild animals of the desert honor me,p> <p class="poetry">the jackals and ostriches,p> <p class="poetry">because I put water in the desertp> <p class="poetry">and streams in the wilderness,p> <p class="poetry">to quench the thirst of my chosen people,p>

<p class="poetry">For I will pour water on the parched ground<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and cause streams to flow<n id="2" /> on the dry land.p> <p class="poetry">I will pour my spirit on your offspringp> <p class="poetry">and my blessing on your children.p>

<p class="poetry">With the rest of it he makes a god, his idol;p> <p class="poetry">he bows down to it and worships it.p> <p class="poetry">He prays to it, saying,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Rescue me, for you are my god!&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">Remember these things, O Jacob,p> <p class="poetry">O Israel, for you are my servant.p> <p class="poetry">I formed you to be my servant;p> <p class="poetry">O Israel, I will not forget you!<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">I will give you hidden treasures,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">riches stashed away in secret places,p> <p class="poetry">so you may recognize that I am the <sc>Lordsc>,p> <p class="poetry">the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.p>

<p class="poetry">I solemnly make this oath<n id="1" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">what I say is true and reliable:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Surely every knee will bow to me,p> <p class="poetry">every tongue will solemnly affirm;<n id="3" />p>