18For the Lord is God,

and he created the heavens and earth

and put everything in place.

He made the world to be lived in,

not to be a place of empty chaos.

“I am the Lord,” he says,

“and there is no other.

19I publicly proclaim bold promises.

I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.

I would not have told the people of Israel^c to seek me

if I could not be found.

I, the Lord, speak only what is true

and declare only what is right.

20“Gather together and come,

you fugitives from surrounding nations.

What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols

and pray to gods that cannot save!

21Consult together, argue your case.

Get together and decide what to say.

Who made these things known so long ago?

What idol ever told you they would happen?

Was it not I, the Lord?

For there is no other God but me,

a righteous God and Savior.

There is none but me.

22Let all the world look to me for salvation!

For I am God; there is no other.

23I have sworn by my own name;

I have spoken the truth,

and I will never go back on my word:

Every knee will bend to me,

and every tongue will confess allegiance to me.^d”

24The people will declare,

“The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.”

And all who were angry with him

will come to him and be ashamed.

25In the Lord all the generations of Israel will be justified,

and in him they will boast.