Isaiah 41

1 Islands, dedicate yourselves to me. The rulers will renew their strength. Let them come near and speak together; then let them present their case.

2 Who stirred up righteousness from the east, called it to follow him, and sent it forward? He will set it against nations, terrify kings, cast their swords to the ground, and scatter their bows like driven sticks.

3 He will pursue them, and his feet will travel their road in peace.

4 Who accomplished these things? The one who called it from generations long ago. I am God, the first, and for what is to come, I AM.

5 The nations saw and were afraid; the ends of the earth came near and gathered together.

6 Each judged what would help his neighbor, and each said to his brother,

7 The craftsman has become strong, and so has the metalworker who strikes with the hammer and works at the forge. One says, It is joined well. They fasten it with nails so it will not move.

8 But you, Israel, are my servant Jacob, the one I chose, the offspring of Abraham, whom I loved.

9 I took hold of you from the ends of the earth and called you from its heights. I told you, ‘You are my servant.’ I chose you and did not abandon you.

10 Do not fear, because I am with you. Do not wander, because I am your God. I strengthened and helped you and established you with my righteous right hand.

11 Look, all your adversaries will be ashamed and confused. They will become as though they never existed, and everyone opposing you will perish.

12 You will search for the men raging insolently against you but will not find them. They and everyone fighting you will become as though they never existed.

13 I am your God, holding your right hand and saying to you, Do not be afraid.

14 Jacob, Israel though you are few, I have helped you, says God, the one who ransoms you, Israel.

15 Look, I have made you like a new wagon with saw-edged threshing wheels. You will thresh mountains, grind hills to powder, and make them like chaff.

16 You will winnow them; the wind will carry them away and a storm will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the holy ones of Israel.

17 The poor and needy will rejoice. When they look for water and find none, and their tongue is dry with thirst, I, the Lord God, the God of Israel, will hear them and will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers on the mountains and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into pools and thirsty land into streams.

19 I will plant cedar, box, myrtle, cypress, and white poplar in the dry land,

20 so that they may see, know, perceive, and understand together that the Lord’s hand has done these works and the Holy One of Israel has displayed them.

21 Your case draws near, says the Lord God. Your arguments have drawn near, says the King of Jacob.

22 Let them come near and tell you what will happen. Or tell us what happened long ago, and we will apply our minds and understand the final and future things.

23 Tell us what will happen at the end, and we will know that you are gods. Do good or evil, and together we will wonder and see.

24 Where are you from, and where do your works come from? They come from earth. People chose you as a detestable thing.

25 I raised up the one from the north and the one from the sunrise. They will be called by my name. Let rulers come. Like a potter’s clay—as a potter tramples the clay—so you will be trampled.

26 Who will announce the things from the beginning so we may know the earlier things and say they are true? No one speaks beforehand, and no one hears your words.

27 I will give leadership to Zion and comfort Jerusalem along the road.

28 I looked among the nations, and there was no one. None of their idols could declare anything. If I asked them where they came from, they could not answer me.

29 Your supposed makers and those who mislead you are empty.