Isaiah 48:1-11 - Yahweh Refines Stubborn Israel

¹ Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and have come out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Jehovah 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 rest themselves on the God of Israel; Jehovah of Hosts is His name. ³ I have foretold the former things from the beginning; and they went out of My mouth; and I made them hear; I acted suddenly; and they came about. ⁴ Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your brow bronze. ⁵ And I declared it to you from the beginning. Before it happened I revealed it to you; lest you should say, My idol has done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, has commanded them. ⁶ You heard; see it all; and will you not declare? I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, and you did not know them. ⁷ They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when you did not hear them; lest you should say, Behold, I knew them. ⁸ Yea, you did not hear; yea, you did not know; yea, from the time that your ear was not opened; for I surely know that you will betray and trespass; from the womb it was called to you. ⁹ For My name's sake I will put off My anger, and for My praise I will hold back for you, that I do not cut you off. ¹⁰ Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction. ¹¹ For my sake, for My sake I will do it; for why should My name be defiled? And I will not give My glory to another.