Isaiah 41:21-42:17

New International Version

²¹“Present your case,^(A)” says the Lord.
    “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.^(B)
²²“Tell us, you idols,
    what is going to happen.^(C)
Tell us what the former things^(D) were,
    so that we may consider them
    and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,^(E)
²³    tell us what the future holds,
    so we may know^(F) that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,^(G)
    so that we will be dismayed^(H) and filled with fear.
²⁴But you are less than nothing^(I)
    and your works are utterly worthless;^(J)
    whoever chooses you is detestable.^(K)

²⁵“I have stirred^(L) up one from the north,^(M) and he comes—
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads^(N) on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.
²⁶Who told of this from the beginning,^(O) so we could know,
    or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
    no one foretold^(P) it,
    no one heard any words^(Q) from you.
²⁷I was the first to tell^(R) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
    I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.^(S)
²⁸I look but there is no one^(T)—
    no one among the gods to give counsel,^(U)
    no one to give answer^(V) when I ask them.
²⁹See, they are all false!
    Their deeds amount to nothing;^(W)
    their images^(X) are but wind^(Y) and confusion.

The Servant of the Lord

42 “Here is my servant,^(Z) whom I uphold,
    my chosen one^(AA) in whom I delight;^(AB)
I will put my Spirit^(AC) on him,
    and he will bring justice^(AD) to the nations.^(AE)
²He will not shout or cry out,^(AF)
    or raise his voice in the streets.
³A bruised reed^(AG) he will not break,^(AH)
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.^(AI)
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;^(AJ)
⁴    he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice^(AK) on earth.
    In his teaching^(AL) the islands^(AM) will put their hope.”^(AN)

⁵This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,^(AO) who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth^(AP) with all that springs from it,^(AQ)
    who gives breath^(AR) to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
⁶“I, the Lord, have called^(AS) you in righteousness;^(AT)
    I will take hold of your hand.^(AU)
I will keep^(AV) you and will make you
    to be a covenant^(AW) for the people
    and a light^(AX) for the Gentiles,^(AY)
⁷to open eyes that are blind,^(AZ)
    to free^(BA) captives from prison^(BB)
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.^(BC)

⁸“I am the Lord;^(BD) that is my name!^(BE)
    I will not yield my glory to another^(BF)
    or my praise to idols.^(BG)
⁹See, the former things^(BH) have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce^(BI) them to you.”

Song of Praise to the Lord

¹⁰Sing^(BJ) to the Lord a new song,^(BK)
    his praise^(BL) from the ends of the earth,^(BM)
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,^(BN)
    you islands,^(BO) and all who live in them.
¹¹Let the wilderness^(BP) and its towns raise their voices;
    let the settlements where Kedar^(BQ) lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela^(BR) sing for joy;
    let them shout from the mountaintops.^(BS)
¹²Let them give glory^(BT) to the Lord
    and proclaim his praise^(BU) in the islands.^(BV)
¹³The Lord will march out like a champion,^(BW)
    like a warrior^(BX) he will stir up his zeal;^(BY)
with a shout^(BZ) he will raise the battle cry
    and will triumph over his enemies.^(CA)

¹⁴“For a long time I have kept silent,^(CB)
    I have been quiet and held myself back.^(CC)
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
    I cry out, I gasp and pant.^(CD)
¹⁵I will lay waste^(CE) the mountains^(CF) and hills
    and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
    and dry up^(CG) the pools.
¹⁶I will lead^(CH) the blind^(CI) by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light^(CJ) before them
    and make the rough places smooth.^(CK)
These are the things I will do;
    I will not forsake^(CL) them.
¹⁷But those who trust in idols,
    who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’^(CM)
    will be turned back in utter shame.^(CN)