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One skilled worker makes a statue of a god.
    Another covers it with gold.
The first worker says to the second,
    “You have done a good job.”
Another worker smooths out the metal with a hammer.
    Still another gives the statue its final shape.
The one who hammers says to the one who shapes,
    “You have done a good job.”
    Then they nail the statue down so it won’t fall over.

The Lord says, “People of Israel, you are my servants.
    Family of Jacob, I have chosen you.
    You are the children of my friend Abraham.
I gathered you from one end of the earth to the other.
    From the farthest places on earth I brought you together.
I said, ‘You are my servants.’
    I have chosen you.
    I have not turned my back on you.

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The metalworker(A) encourages the goldsmith,(B)
    and the one who smooths with the hammer
    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
    The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.(C)

“But you, Israel, my servant,(D)
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,(E)
    you descendants of Abraham(F) my friend,(G)
I took you from the ends of the earth,(H)
    from its farthest corners I called(I) you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;(J)
    I have chosen(K) you and have not rejected you.

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