[44:1] The Lord says, “Listen now, Israel, my servant, my chosen people, the descendants of Jacob.
[44:2] I am the Lord who created you; from the time you were born, I have helped you. Do not be afraid; you are my servant, my chosen people whom I love.
[44:3] “I will give water to the thirsty land and make streams flow on the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit on your children and my blessing on your descendants.
[44:4] They will thrive like well-watered grass, like willows by streams of running water.
[44:5] “One by one, people will say, ‘I am the Lord's.’ They will come to join the people of Israel. They each will mark the name of the Lord on their arms and call themselves one of God's people.”
[44:6] The Lord, who rules and protects Israel, the Lord Almighty, has this to say: “I am the first, the last, the only God; there is no other god but me.
[44:7] Could anyone else have done what I did? Who could have predicted all that would happen from the very beginning to the end of time?
[44:8] Do not be afraid, my people! You know that from ancient times until now I have predicted all that would happen, and you are my witnesses. Is there any other god? Is there some powerful god I never heard of?”