Isaiah 42

1 Jacob is my servant; I will help him. Israel is my chosen one; my soul has accepted him. I have put my Spirit on him, and he will bring judgment to the nations.

2 He will not cry out or raise his voice, and his voice will not be heard outside.

3 He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish smoking flax, but he will bring judgment out into truth.

4 He will shine out and not be crushed until he establishes judgment on earth. Nations will trust in his name.

5 This is what the Lord God says—the one who made and established heaven, settled the earth and everything in it, gives breath to the people on it, and gives spirit to those who walk on it:

6 I, the Lord God, called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand and strengthen you. I gave you as a covenant for a people and a light for nations,

7 to open blind eyes and lead prisoners and those sitting in darkness out of prison and chains.

8 I am the Lord God; that is my name. I will not give my glory to another or my praise to carved images.

9 Look, the ancient things happened. So will the new things I announce; even before they spring up, they are made known to you.

10 Sing a new hymn to the Lord. You who belong to his dominion, give glory to his name from the end of the earth—you who go down to the sea and sail it, the islands and their inhabitants.

11 Let the wilderness, its villages and settlements, and the people of Kedar rejoice. Let the people of Petra rejoice and shout from mountain summits.

12 They will give God glory and announce his praises on the islands.

13 The Lord God of armies will go out and crush the war. He will stir up zeal and shout mightily against his enemies.

14 I remained silent. Will I always remain silent and endure? I endured like a woman giving birth, but now I will amaze and dry things up at once.

15 I will make rivers into islands and dry up marshes.

16 I will lead blind people along a road they did not know and make them walk paths unfamiliar to them. I will turn darkness into light for them and crooked things straight. I will do these things and not abandon them.

17 But those who trust in carved images and tell cast images, ‘You are our gods,’ were turned back. Be completely ashamed.

18 Listen, you deaf people, and look up so you may see, you blind people.

19 Who is blind except my servants, or deaf except those who rule over them? God’s servants became blind.

20 You saw many times but paid no attention. Your ears were opened, but you did not hear.

21 The Lord God intended to be vindicated and to magnify praise. Then I saw

22 that the people had been plundered and robbed. A snare was everywhere in hidden rooms and in the houses where people concealed them. They became plunder, but no one rescued the prey or said, ‘Restore them.’

23 Who among you will pay attention to these things and listen for what is about to happen?

24 Who handed Jacob over for plunder and Israel to those who robbed him? Was it not God, the one they sinned against? They refused to walk in his ways or listen to his law.

25 So he brought the fury of his wrath and war against them. Those burning all around them prevailed, yet no one understood or took it to heart.