Isaiah 41:21-42:9

Good News Translation

The Lord's Challenge to False Gods

²¹The Lord, the king of Israel, has this to say:

“You gods of the nations, present your case.
    Bring the best arguments you have!
²²Come here and predict what will happen,
    so that we will know it when it takes place.
Explain to the court the events of the past,
    and tell us what they mean.
²³Tell us what the future holds—
    then we will know that you are gods!
Do something good or bring some disaster;
    fill us with fear and awe!
²⁴You and all you do are nothing;
    those who worship you are disgusting!

²⁵“I have chosen a man who lives in the east;^[a]
    I will bring him to attack from the north.
He tramples on rulers as if they were mud,
    like a potter trampling clay.
²⁶Which of you predicted that this would happen,
    so that we could say that you were right?
None of you said a word about it;
    no one heard you say a thing!
²⁷I, the Lord, was the first to tell Zion the news;
    I sent a messenger to Jerusalem to say,
    ‘Your people are coming! They are coming home!’^[b]
²⁸When I looked among the gods,
    none of them had a thing to say;
    not one could answer the questions I asked.
²⁹All these gods are useless;
    they can do nothing at all—
    these idols are weak and powerless.”

The Lord's Servant

42 ^(A)The Lord says,

“Here is my servant, whom I strengthen—
    the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased.
I have filled him with my Spirit,
    and he will bring justice to every nation.
²He will not shout or raise his voice
    or make loud speeches in the streets.
³He will not break off a bent reed
    nor put out a flickering lamp.
He will bring lasting justice to all.
⁴He will not lose hope or courage;
    he will establish justice on the earth.
    Distant lands eagerly wait for his teaching.”

⁵^(B)God created the heavens and stretched them out;
    he fashioned the earth and all that lives there;
    he gave life and breath to all its people.
And now the Lord God says to his servant,
⁶^(C)“I, the Lord, have called you and given you power
    to see that justice is done on earth.
Through you I will make a covenant with all peoples;
    through you I will bring light to the nations.
⁷You will open the eyes of the blind
    and set free those who sit in dark prisons.

⁸“I alone am the Lord your God.
    No other god may share my glory;
    I will not let idols share my praise.
⁹The things I predicted have now come true.
Now I will tell you of new things
    even before they begin to happen.”