Isaiah 48:1-11 - Yahweh Refines Stubborn Israel

¹ Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come forth out of the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness ² (for they call themselves of the holy city, and steady themselves upon the God of Israel, LORD of hosts is his name): ³ I have declared the former things from of old. Yea, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. ⁴ Because I knew that thou are obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass, ⁵ therefore I have declared it to thee from of old. Before it came to pass I showed it to thee, lest thou should say, My idol has done them. And my graven image, and my molten image, has commanded them. ⁶ Thou have heard it, behold all this, and ye, will ye not declare it? I have shown thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou have not known. ⁷ They are created now, and not from of old. And thou have not heard them before this day, lest thou should say, Behold, I knew them. ⁸ Yea, thou heard not. Yea, thou knew not. Yea, from of old thine ear was not opened. For I knew that thou dealt very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb. ⁹ For my name's sake I will defer my anger, and for my praise I will refrain for thee, that I not cut thee off. ¹⁰ Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver. I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. ¹¹ For my own sake, for my own sake, I will do it. For how should [my name] be profaned? And I not will give my glory to another.