'Former' in the Bible

Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;As for the former events, declare what they were,That we may consider them and know their outcome.Or announce to us what is coming;

Who has declared this from the beginning, that we might know?Or from former times, that we may say, “He is right!”?Surely there was no one who declared,Surely there was no one who proclaimed,Surely there was no one who heard your words.

“Behold, the former things have come to pass,Now I declare new things;Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

All the nations have gathered togetherSo that the peoples may be assembled.Who among them can declare thisAnd proclaim to us the former things?Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified,Or let them hear and say, “It is true.”

“Do not call to mind the former things,Or ponder things of the past.

“Remember the former things long past,For I am God, and there is no other;I am God, and there is no one like Me,

“I declared the former things long agoAnd they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them.Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.

Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,They will raise up the former devastations;And they will repair the ruined cities,The desolations of many generations.

Both their own iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together,” says the Lord.“Because they have burned incense on the mountainsAnd scorned Me on the hills,Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.”

“Because he who is blessed in the earthWill be blessed by the God of truth;And he who swears in the earthWill swear by the God of truth;Because the former troubles are forgotten,And because they are hidden from My sight!

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.