²⁶ Who told of this from the beginning,^(A) so we could know,
    or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
    no one foretold^(B) it,
    no one heard any words^(C) from you.

²² “Tell us, you idols,
    what is going to happen.^(A)
Tell us what the former things^(B) were,
    so that we may consider them
    and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,^(C)

¹⁸ “Of what value^(A) is an idol^(B) carved by a craftsman?
    Or an image^(C) that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
    he makes idols that cannot speak.^(D)
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’^(E)
Can it give guidance?
    It is covered with gold and silver;^(F)
    there is no breath in it.”^(G)

²⁰ The Lord is in his holy temple;^(H)
    let all the earth be silent^(I) before him.

²¹ Declare what is to be, present it—
    let them take counsel together.
Who foretold^(A) this long ago,
    who declared it from the distant past?^(B)
Was it not I, the Lord?
    And there is no God apart from me,^(C)
a righteous God^(D) and a Savior;^(E)
    there is none but me.

⁹ All the nations gather together^(A)
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold^(B) this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”