Isaiah 48:1-11 - Yahweh Refines Stubborn Israel

¹ “Listen to this, house of Jacob—
those who are called by the name Israel
and have descended from Judah,
who swear by the name of Yahweh
and declare the God of Israel,
but not in truth or righteousness.
² For they are named after the Holy City,
and lean on the God of Israel;
His name is Yahweh of Hosts.
³ I declared the past events long ago;
they came out of My mouth; I proclaimed them.
Suddenly I acted, and they occurred.
⁴ Because I know that you are stubborn,
and your neck is iron
and your forehead bronze,
⁵ therefore I declared to you long ago.
I announced it to you before it occurred,
so you could not claim, ‘My idol caused them;
my carved image and cast idol control them.’
⁶ You have heard it. Observe it all.
Will you not acknowledge it?
From now on I will announce new things to you,
hidden things that you have not known.
⁷ They have been created now, and not long ago;
you have not heard of them before today,
so you could not claim, ‘I already knew them!’
⁸ You have never heard; you have never known;
For a long time your ears have not been open.
For I knew that you were very treacherous,
and were known as a rebel from birth.
⁹ I will delay My anger for the honor of My name,
and I will restrain Myself for your benefit and for My praise,
so that you will not be destroyed.
¹⁰ Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
¹¹ I will act for My own sake, indeed, My own,
for how can I be defiled?
I will not give My glory to another.