The Lord versus the Nations’ Gods
And let peoples renew their strength.
Let them approach; let them testify;
let’s come together for the trial.
In righteousness he calls him to serve.41:2 Or Righteousness calls him to serve41:2 Lit to his foot41:2 Is 42:6
and he subdues kings.
He makes them like dust with his sword,
like wind-driven stubble with his bow.
3He pursues them, going on safely,
hardly touching the path with his feet.
4Who has performed and done this,
calling the generations from the beginning?
I am the Lord, the first
5The coasts and islands see and are afraid,
the whole earth trembles.41:5 Ps 67:7
They approach and arrive.
6Each one helps the other,
and says to another, “Take courage!”
the one who flattens with the hammer
encourages the one who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It is good.”
9I brought41:9 Or seized you from the ends of the earth
and called you from its farthest corners.
I said to you: You are my servant;
I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.41:9 Is 43:5–7
do not be afraid, for I am your God.41:10 Ezk 34:31
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.41:10 Ex 15:6,12; Ps 18:35; 48:10; 63:8; 138:7; 139:10
11Be sure that all who are enraged against you
will be ashamed and disgraced;41:11 Is 45:24
those who contend with you
will become as nothing and will perish.
12You will look for those who contend with you,
but you will not find them.
Those who war against you
will become absolutely nothing.
who holds your right hand,
who says to you, “Do not fear,
I will help you.
you men41:14 LXX reads small number; DSS read dead ones of Israel.
I will help you” —
this is the Lord’s declaration.
Your Redeemer41:14 Is 43:14; 44:6,24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7,26; 54:5,8; 59:20; 60:16; 63:16 is the Holy One of Israel.41:14 Is 1:4
15See, I will make you into a sharp threshing board,
new, with many teeth.
You will thresh mountains and pulverize them
and a wind will carry them away,
a whirlwind will scatter them.
But you will rejoice in the Lord;
you will boast in the Holy One of Israel.
17The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I will not abandon them.
and springs in the middle of the plains.
I will turn the desert into a pool
19I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees
I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together
in the desert.
20so that all may see and know,
consider and understand,
the Holy One of Israel has created41:20 Is 4:5 it.
21“Submit your case,” says the Lord.
“Present your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
22“Let them come and tell us
Tell us the past events,
so that we may reflect on them
and know the outcome,
or tell us the future.
then we will know that you are gods.
Indeed, do something good or bad,
then we will be in awe41:23 DSS read we may hear when we see it.
and your work is worthless.
Anyone who chooses you is detestable.
He will march over rulers as if they were mud,
like a potter who treads the clay.
26Who told about this from the beginning,
so that we might know,
and from times past,
so that we might say, ‘He is right’?
No one announced it,
no one told it,
no one heard your words.
27I was the first to say to Zion,41:27 Lit First to Zion
‘Look! Here they are!’
28When I look, there is no one;
there is no counselor among them;
when I ask them, they have nothing to say.41:28 Is 46:7
29Look, all of them are a delusion;41:29 DSS, Syr read are nothing
their works are nonexistent;
their images are wind and emptiness.
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