Isaiah 42
The Lord’s Servant Will Bring Righteousness to the World
1 Here is my servant, whom I support.Here is my chosen one, with whom I am pleased.I have put my Spirit on him.He will bring justice to the nations.2 He will not cry out or raise his voice.He will not make his voice heard in the streets.3 He will not break off a damaged cattail.He will not even put out a smoking wick.He will faithfully bring about justice.4 He will not be discouraged or crusheduntil he has set up justice on the earth.The coastlands will wait for his teachings.5 The Lord God created the heavens and stretched them out.He shaped the earth and all that comes from it.He gave life to the people who are on itand breath to those who walk on it.This is what the Lord God says:6 I, the Lord, have called you to do what is right.I will take hold of your hand.I will protect you.I will appoint you as my promiset to the people,as my light to the nations.7 You will give sight to the blind,bring prisoners out of prisons,and bring those who live in darknessout of dungeons.8 I am the Lord; that is my name.I will not give my glory to anyone elseor the praise I deserve to idols.9 What I said in the past has come true.I will reveal new things before they happen.
A Song About the Lord, the Warrior
10 Sing a new song to the Lord.Sing his praise from the ends of the earth,you people who sail on the seasand all the creatures that live in them,you coastlands and all who live on them.11 Let those who live in the desert and its cities raise their voices.Let those who live in the settlements of Kedar praise him.Let those who live in Sela sing for joy.Let them shout from the tops of the mountains.12 Let them give glory to the Lordand announce his praise on the coastlands.13 The Lord marches out like a warrior.He prepares himself for battle like a soldier.He shouts, gives the battle cry, and overpowers his enemies.14 I have been silent for a long time.I kept quiet and held myself back.But like a woman in childbirth I will cry out.I will gasp and pant.15 I will lay waste to mountains and hills.I will dry up all their vegetation.I will turn rivers into islands.I will dry up ponds.16 I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads.I will lead them on unfamiliar paths.I will turn darkness into light in front of them.I will make rough places smooth.These are the things I will do for them,and I will never abandon them.17 Then those who trust idolsand those who say to statues,“You are our gods”will be turned away and put to shame.
The Lord Will Bring Israel Home
18 Listen, you deaf people.Look, you blind people, so that you can see.19 Who is blind except my servantor deaf like the messenger I send?Who is blind like the one who has my trustor blind like the servant of the Lord?20 You have seen much, but you do not observe anything.Your ears are open, but you hear nothing.21 The Lord is pleased because he does what is right.He praises the greatness of his teachings and makes them glorious.22 But these people are robbed and looted.They are all trapped in pits and hidden in prisons.They have become prey with no one to rescue them.They have become loot with no one to say, “Give it back.”23 Who among you will listen to this?Is there anyone who will pay attention and listen in the future?24 Who gave Jacob away as lootand handed Israel over to robbers?Wasn’t it the Lord, against whom we have sinned?They didn’t want to live his way.They didn’t obey his teachings.25 So he poured out his burning anger and the horrors of war on them.It engulfed them in flames, but they did not understand.It burned them, but they did not take it to heart.
Isaiah 42
1 Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.2 He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.3 A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth.4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.5 Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:6 I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;7 to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.8 I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.10 Sing unto Jehovah a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.12 Let them give glory unto Jehovah, and declare his praise in the islands.13 Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant together.15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.17 They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I send? who is blind as he that is at peace with me, and blind as Jehovah’s servant?20 Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.21 It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.23 Who is there among you that will give ear to this? that will hearken and hear for the time to come?24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.25 Therefore he poured upon him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.