Haftarah for Vayikra 
YesheYahu (Isa) 43:21 - 44:23

 

 

YesheYahu (Isa) 43:21-28

21        the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise.

22        "Yet you have not called upon Me, O Ya’acov; you have not wearied yourselves for Me, O Yisrael.

23        You have not brought Me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense.

24        You have not bought any fragrant calamus reed for Me, or lavished on Me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins and wearied Me with your offenses.

25        "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.

26        Review the past for Me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.

27        Your first father sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against Me.

28        So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple, and I will consign Ya’acov to destruction and Yisrael to scorn.

YesheYahu (Isa)44:1-23

1          "But now listen, O Ya’acov, My servant, Yisrael, whom I have chosen.

2          This is what YHWH says, He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Ya’acov Jacob, My servant, Yeshurun (upright one, an epithet for Yisrael), whom I have chosen.

3          For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants.

4          They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.

5          One will say, I belong to YHWH; another will call himself by the name of Ya’acov; still another will write on his hand, YHWH's and will take the name Yisrael.

6          This is what YHWH says, Yisrael's King and Redeemer, YHWH Tsavaowt: I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no Elohiym.

7          Who then is like Me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before Me what has happened since I established My ancient people and what is yet to come, yes, let him foretell what will come.

8          Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are My witnesses. Is there any Elohiym besides Me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."

9          All who make idols are nothing and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind and they are ignorant, to their own shame.

10        Who shapes a ‘mighty one’ and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing?

11        He and his kind will be put to shame. Craftsmen are nothing but men. Let them all come together and take their stand for they will be brought down to terror and infamy.

12        The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength and when he drinks no water he grows faint.

13        The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker. Then he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory that it may dwell in a shrine.

14        He cut down cedars or perhaps he takes a cypress or oak. He, himself let it grow among the trees of the forest or perhaps he planted a pine and the rain made it grow.

15        The tree is man's fuel for burning and some of it he takes and warms him self, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But then he also fashions a ‘god’ and worships it.  Foolishly he makes an idol and bows down to it.

16        Half of the wood he burns in the fire and over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.

17        From the rest he makes a ‘god’, his idol and he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, save me; you are my ‘god’.

18        They (the men and the idols?) know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

19        No one stops to think and no one has the knowledge or understanding. They do not know to say, half of this tree I used for fuel and I even baked bread over its coals. I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?

20        He feeds on ashes and his deluded heart misleads him. He cannot save himself or even ask himself if this thing in my right hand is a lie?

21        Remember these things, O Ya’acov, for you are My servant, O Yisrael. I have made you, you are My servant; O Yisrael, I will not forget you.

22        I have swept away your offenses like a cloud and your sins like the morning mist. Return to Me for I have redeemed you."

23        Sing for joy, O heavens, for YHWH has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees for YHWH has redeemed Ya’acov and He displays His glory in Yisrael.

 

 

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