Isaiah 48:1-11 - Yahweh Refines Stubborn Israel

¹ "Listen to this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel, and who have come forth from Judah's loins; you who swear oaths in the name of the LORD and invoke the God of Israel but not in truth, nor in good faith. ² For they name themselves after the holy city, and rely on the God of Israel the LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name. ³ I foretold the former things long ago; it went forth from my mouth, and I disclosed them; Suddenly, I acted, and they came to pass. ⁴ Because I knew that you are obstinate, and because your neck is an iron sinew, and your forehead is bronze, ⁵ I told you these things long ago; I announced them to you before they happened so that you couldn't say, "My idol did them; my carved image or metal idol ordained them.' ⁶ "You have heard now look at them all! How can you not admit them? From now on, I'll make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known. ⁷ They are created now, and not long ago; you didn't hear them before today, so you cannot say, "Yes, I knew them.' ⁸ And neither had you heard, nor did you understand, nor did you open your ear long ago. Indeed, I knew that you would act very deceitfully, and they would call you a rebel from birth. ⁹ I defer my anger for my name's sake, and as my first act I'm restraining it for you, so as not to cut you off. ¹⁰ Look, I have refined you, but not like silver; I have purified you in the furnace of affliction. ¹¹ For my own sake Yes, for my own sake! I'm doing it; indeed, how can I be profaned? Furthermore, I won't give my glory to another."