Isaiah 41
and let the peoples renew their strength.
Let them come near,
then let them speak.
Let’s meet together for judgment.
Who called him to his foot in righteousness?
He hands over nations to him
and makes him rule over kings.
He gives them like the dust to his sword,
like the driven stubble to his bow.
and passes by safely,
even by a way that he had not gone with his feet.
calling the generations from the beginning?
I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.”
The ends of the earth tremble.
They approach, and come.
They say to their brothers, “Be strong!”
He who smoothes with the hammer encourages him who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It is good;”
and he fastens it with nails, that it might not totter.
Jacob whom I have chosen,
the offspring of Abraham my friend,
and called from its corners,
and said to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away.’
Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you.
Yes, I will help you.
Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and shall perish.
even those who contend with you.
Those who war against you will be as nothing,
as a non-existent thing.
saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid.
I will help you.’
and you men of Israel.
I will help you,” says Yahweh.
“Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
You will thresh the mountains,
and beat them small,
and will make the hills like chaff.
and the wind will carry them away,
and the whirlwind will scatter them.
You will rejoice in Yahweh.
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.
Their tongue fails for thirst.
I, Yahweh, will answer them.
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
and springs in the middle of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
and the dry land springs of water.
I will set cypress trees, pine, and box trees together in the desert;
that Yahweh’s hand has done this,
and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
“Bring out your strong reasons!” says the King of Jacob.
Declare the former things, what they are,
that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them;
or show us things to come.
that we may know that you are gods.
Yes, do good, or do evil,
that we may be dismayed,
and see it together.
and your work is nothing.
He who chooses you is an abomination.
from the rising of the sun, one who calls on my name,
and he shall come on rulers as on mortar,
and as the potter treads clay.
and before, that we may say, ‘He is right?’
Surely, there is no one who declares.
Surely, there is no one who shows.
Surely, there is no one who hears your words.
and I will give one who brings good news to Jerusalem.
even among them there is no counselor who, when I ask of them, can answer a word.
Their molten images are wind and confusion.