Isaiah 41 (LSV)
1 Keep silent toward Me, O islands, || And the peoples pass on [to] power, || They come near, then they speak, “Together we draw near to judgment.” 2 Who stirred up a righteous one from the east? He calls him to His foot, || He gives nations before him, || And He causes him to rule kings, || He gives [them] as dust [to] his sword, || As driven stubble [to] his bow. 3 He pursues them, he passes over in safety || A path he does not enter with his feet. 4 Who has worked and done, || Calling the generations from the first? I, YHWH, the first, and with the last I [am] He. 5 Islands have seen and fear, || The ends of the earth tremble, || They have drawn near, indeed, they come. 6 They each help his neighbor, || And to his brother he says, “Be strong.” 7 And an artisan strengthens the refiner, || A smoother [with] a hammer, || Him who is beating [on] an anvil, saying, “For joining it [is] good,” || And he strengthens it with nails, it is not moved! 8 And you, O Israel, My servant, || Jacob, whom I have chosen, || Seed of Abraham, My lover, 9 Whom I have taken hold of, from the ends of the earth, || And from its near places I have called you, || And I say to you, You [are] My servant, || I have chosen you, and not rejected you. 10 Do not be afraid, for I [am] with you, do not look around, for I [am] your God, || I have strengthened you, || Indeed, I have helped you, indeed, I upheld you, || With the right hand of My righteousness. 11 Behold, all those displeased with you, || They are ashamed and blush, || They are as nothing, indeed, || The men who strive with you perish. 12 You seek them, and do not find them, || The men who debate with you, || They are as nothing, indeed, as nothing, || The men who war with you. 13 For I, your God YHWH, || Am strengthening your right hand, || He who is saying to you, “Do not fear, I have helped you.” 14 Do not fear, O worm Jacob, || You men of Israel, || I helped you, a declaration of YHWH, || Even your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 Behold, I have set you for a new sharp threshing instrument, || Possessing teeth, you thresh mountains, || And beat small, and make hills as chaff. 16 You winnow them, and a wind lifts them up, || And a whirlwind scatters them, || And you rejoice in YHWH, || [And] boast yourself in the Holy One of Israel. 17 The poor and the needy are seeking water, || And there is none, || Their tongue has failed with thirst, || I, YHWH, answer them, || The God of Israel—I do not forsake them. 18 I open rivers on high places, || And fountains in midst of valleys, || I make a wilderness become a pond of water, || And a dry land becomes springs of water. 19 I give in a wilderness the cedar, || Shittah, and myrtle, and oil-tree, || I set in a desert the fir-pine and box-wood together. 20 So that they see, and know, || And regard, and act wisely together, || For the hand of YHWH has done this, || And the Holy One of Israel has created it. 21 Bring your cause near, says YHWH, || Bring your mighty ones near, says the King of Jacob. 22 They bring [them] near, and declare to us that which happens, || Declare the first things—what they [are], || And we set our heart, and know their latter end, || Or cause us to hear the coming things. 23 Declare the things that are coming hereafter, || And we know that you [are] gods, || Indeed, you may do good or do evil, || And we look around and see [it] together. 24 Behold, you [are] of nothing, and your work of nothing, || An abomination—it fixes on you. 25 I have stirred up [one] from the north, || And he comes, || From the rising of the sun he calls in My Name, || And he comes in [on] prefects as [on] clay, || And as a potter treads down mire. 26 Who has declared from the first, and we know? And formerly, and we say, “Righteous?” Indeed, there is none declaring, || Indeed, there is none proclaiming, || Indeed, there is none hearing your sayings. 27 First to Zion, || Behold, behold them, || And to Jerusalem I give one proclaiming tidings, 28 And I see that there is no man, || Indeed, of these that there is no counselor, || And I ask them, and they return word: 29 “Behold, all of them [are] vanity, || Their works [are] nothing, || Their molten images [are] wind and emptiness!”