18  ^vFor thus says the Lord,

who created the heavens

(he is God!),

who formed the earth and made it

(he established it;

he ^wdid not create it empty,

^xhe formed it to be inhabited!):

“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

19  ^yI did not speak in secret,

in a land of darkness;

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,

^z‘Seek me in vain.’¹

I the Lord speak ^athe truth;

I declare what is right.