May 8, 2022

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

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Isaiah 43:1-15

Revised Standard Version

But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
    and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
    peoples in exchange for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you;
I will say to the north, Give up,
    and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth,
every one who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”

Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
    who are deaf, yet have ears!
Let all the nations gather together,
    and let the peoples assemble.
Who among them can declare this,
    and show us the former things?
Let them bring their witnesses to justify them,
    and let them hear and say, It is true.
“You are my witnesses,” says the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am He.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord,
    and besides me there is no savior.
I declared and saved and proclaimed,
    when there was no strange god among you;
    and you are my witnesses,” says the Lord.
“I am God, and also henceforth I am He;
    there is none who can deliver from my hand;
    I work and who can hinder it?”

Thus says the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and break down all the bars,
    and the shouting of the Chalde′ans will be turned to lamentations.
I am the Lord, your Holy One,
    the Creator of Israel, your King.”