Isaiah 41

Chapter 41

God’s Help for Israel

1 “Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea.
Bring your strongest arguments.
Come now and speak.
The court is ready for your case.2 “Who has stirred up this king from the east,
rightly calling him to God’s service?
Who gives this man victory over many nations
and permits him to trample their kings underfoot?
With his sword, he reduces armies to dust.
With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.3 He chases them away and goes on safely,
though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.4 Who has done such mighty deeds,
summoning each new generation from the beginning of time?
It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last.
I alone am he.”5 The lands beyond the sea watch in fear.
Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.6 The idol makers encourage one another,
saying to each other, “Be strong!”7 The carver encourages the goldsmith,
and the molder helps at the anvil.
“Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.”
Carefully they join the parts together,
then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.8 “But as for you, Israel my servant,
Jacob my chosen one,
descended from Abraham my friend,9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth,
saying, ‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you
and will not throw you away.10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.11 “See, all your angry enemies lie there,
confused and humiliated.
Anyone who opposes you will die
and come to nothing.12 You will look in vain
for those who tried to conquer you.
Those who attack you
will come to nothing.13 For I hold you by your right hand—
I, the LORD your God.
And I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.14 Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob,
don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you.
I am the LORD, your Redeemer.
I am the Holy One of Israel.’15 You will be a new threshing instrument
with many sharp teeth.
You will tear your enemies apart,
making chaff of mountains.16 You will toss them into the air,
and the wind will blow them all away;
a whirlwind will scatter them.
Then you will rejoice in the LORD.
You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.17 “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,
and their tongues are parched from thirst,
then I, the LORD, will answer them.
I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.18 I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.
I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.
I will fill the desert with pools of water.
Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.19 I will plant trees in the barren desert—
cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.20 I am doing this so all who see this miracle
will understand what it means—
that it is the LORD who has done this,
the Holy One of Israel who created it.21 “Present the case for your idols,”
says the LORD.
“Let them show what they can do,”
says the King of Israel.t22 “Let them try to tell us what happened long ago
so that we may consider the evidence.
Or let them tell us what the future holds,
so we can know what’s going to happen.23 Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead.
Then we will know you are gods.
In fact, do anything—good or bad!
Do something that will amaze and frighten us.24 But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all.
Those who choose you pollute themselves.25 “But I have stirred up a leader who will come from the north.
I have called him by name from the east.
I will give him victory over kings and princes.
He will trample them as a potter treads on clay.26 “Who told you from the beginning
that this would happen?
Who predicted this,
making you admit that he was right?
No one said a word!27 I was the first to tell Zion,
‘Look! Help is on the way!’t
I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news.28 Not one of your idols told you this.
Not one gave any answer when I asked.29 See, they are all foolish, worthless things.
All your idols are as empty as the wind.

ISAIAH 41

The [Lord] Controls //Human Events

1 Be silent and listen,
every island in the sea.
Have courage and come near,
every one of you nations.
Let's settle this matter!

2 Who appointed this ruler
from the east?t
Who puts nations and kings
in his power?t
His sword and his arrows
turn them to dust
blown by the wind.

3 He goes after them so quickly
that his feet
barely touch the ground—
he doesn't even get hurt.

4 Who makes these things happen?
Who controls human events?
I do! I am the [Lord].
I was there at the beginning;
I will be there at the end.

5 Islands and foreign nations
saw what I did and trembled
as they came near.

What Can Idols Do?

6 Worshipers of idols
comfort each other,
saying, “Don't worry!”

7 Woodcarvers, goldsmiths,
and other workerst
encourage one another and say,
“We've done a great job!”
Then they nail the idol down,
so it won't fall over.

The [Lord]'s Chosen Servant

8  t Israel, you are my servant.
I chose you, the family
of my friend Abraham.

9 From far across the earth
I brought you here and said,
“You are my chosen servant.
I haven't forgotten you.”

10 Don't be afraid. I am with you.
Don't tremble with fear.
I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
and give you victories.

11 Everyone who hates you
will be terribly disgraced;
those who attack
will vanish into thin air.

12 You will look around
for those brutal enemies,
but you won't find them—
they will be gone.

13 I am the [Lord] your God.
I am holding your hand,
so don't be afraid.
I am here to help you.

14 People of Israel, don't worry,
though others may say,
“Israel is only a worm!”
I am the holy God of Israel,
who saves and protects you.

15 I will let you be like a log
covered with sharp spikes.t
You will grind and crush
every mountain and hillt
until they turn to dust.

16 A strong wind will scatter them
in all directions.
Then you will celebrate
and praise me, your [Lord],
the holy God of Israel.

The [Lord] Helps the Poor

17 When the poor and needy
are dying of thirst
and cannot find water,
I, the [Lord] God of Israel,
will come to their rescue.
I won't forget them.

18 I will make rivers flow
on mountain peaks.
I will send streams
to fill the valleys.
Dry and barren land
will flow with springs
and become a lake.

19 I will fill the desert
with all kinds of trees—
cedars, acacias, and myrtles;
olive and cypress trees;
fir trees and pines.

20 Everyone will see this
and know that I,
the holy [Lord] God of Israel,
created it all.

Idols Are Useless

21 I am the [Lord],
the King of Israel!
Come argue your case with me.
Present your evidence.

22 Come near me, you idols.t
Tell us about the past,
and we will think about it.
Tell us about the future,
so we will know
what is going to happen.

23 Prove that you are gods
by making your predictions
come true.
Do something good or evil,
so we can be amazed
and terrified.t

24 You idols are nothing,
and you are powerless.t
To worship you
would be disgusting.

25 I, the [Lord], appointed a ruler
in the north;
now he comes from the east
to honor my name.
He tramplest kings like mud,
as potters trample clay.t

26 Did any of you idols predict
what would happen?
Did any of you get it right?
None of you told about this
or even spoke a word.

27 I was the first to tell
the people of Jerusalem,
“Look, it's happening!”t
I was the one who announced
this good news to Zion.

28 None of these idols
are able to give advice
or answer questions.

29 They are nothing, t
and they can do nothing—
they are merely
a passing breeze.