Isaiah 40:21-24
The Message
21-24 Have you not been paying attention?
Have you not been listening?
Haven’t you heard these stories all your life?
Don’t you understand the foundation of all things?
God sits high above the round ball of earth.
The people look like mere ants.
He stretches out the skies like a canvas—
yes, like a tent canvas to live under.
He ignores what all the princes say and do.
The rulers of the earth count for nothing.
Princes and rulers don’t amount to much.
Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted,
They shrivel when God blows on them.
Like flecks of chaff, they’re gone with the wind.
Isaiah 40:21-24
New International Version
21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?(A)
Has it not been told(B) you from the beginning?(C)
Have you not understood(D) since the earth was founded?(E)
22 He sits enthroned(F) above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.(G)
He stretches out the heavens(H) like a canopy,(I)
and spreads them out like a tent(J) to live in.(K)
23 He brings princes(L) to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.(M)
24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root(N) in the ground,
than he blows(O) on them and they wither,(P)
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.(Q)
Isaiah 40:28-31
The Message
27-31 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind.
Isaiah 40:28-31
New International Version
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?(A)
The Lord is the everlasting(B) God,
the Creator(C) of the ends of the earth.(D)
He will not grow tired or weary,(E)
and his understanding no one can fathom.(F)
29 He gives strength(G) to the weary(H)
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men(I) stumble and fall;(J)
31 but those who hope(K) in the Lord
will renew their strength.(L)
They will soar on wings like eagles;(M)
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.(N)
Isaiah 42:1-4
The Message
God’s Servant Will Set Everything Right
42 1-4 “Take a good look at my servant.
I’m backing him to the hilt.
He’s the one I chose,
and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.
I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life.
He’ll set everything right among the nations.
He won’t call attention to what he does
with loud speeches or gaudy parades.
He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt
and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant,
but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.
He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped
until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth.
Far-flung ocean islands
wait expectantly for his teaching.”
Isaiah 42:1-4
New International Version
The Servant of the Lord
42 “Here is my servant,(A) whom I uphold,
my chosen one(B) in whom I delight;(C)
I will put my Spirit(D) on him,
and he will bring justice(E) to the nations.(F)
2 He will not shout or cry out,(G)
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed(H) he will not break,(I)
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.(J)
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;(K)
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice(L) on earth.
In his teaching(M) the islands(N) will put their hope.”(O)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.