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Israel Assured of God’s Help

41 Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;
    let the peoples renew their strength;
let them approach, then let them speak;
    let us together draw near for judgment.(A)

Who has roused a victor from the east,
    summoned him to his service?
He delivers up nations to him
    and tramples kings under foot;
he makes them like dust with his sword,
    like driven stubble with his bow.(B)
He pursues them and passes on safely,
    scarcely touching the path with his feet.
Who has performed and done this,
    calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am first
    and will be with the last.(C)
The coastlands have seen and are afraid;
    the ends of the earth tremble;
    they have drawn near and come.(D)
Each one helps the other,
    saying to one another, “Take courage!”(E)
The artisan encourages the goldsmith,
    and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It is good,”
    and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.(F)
But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;(G)
you whom I took from the ends of the earth
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant;
    I have chosen you and not cast you off”;(H)
10 do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
    I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.(I)

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The Helper of Israel

41 “Be silent(A) before me, you islands!(B)
    Let the nations renew their strength!(C)
Let them come forward(D) and speak;
    let us meet together(E) at the place of judgment.

“Who has stirred(F) up one from the east,(G)
    calling him in righteousness(H) to his service[a]?(I)
He hands nations over to him
    and subdues kings before him.
He turns them to dust(J) with his sword,
    to windblown chaff(K) with his bow.(L)
He pursues them and moves on unscathed,(M)
    by a path his feet have not traveled before.
Who has done this and carried it through,
    calling(N) forth the generations from the beginning?(O)
I, the Lord—with the first of them
    and with the last(P)—I am he.(Q)

The islands(R) have seen it and fear;
    the ends of the earth(S) tremble.
They approach and come forward;
    they help each other
    and say to their companions, “Be strong!(T)
The metalworker(U) encourages the goldsmith,(V)
    and the one who smooths with the hammer
    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
    The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.(W)

“But you, Israel, my servant,(X)
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,(Y)
    you descendants of Abraham(Z) my friend,(AA)
I took you from the ends of the earth,(AB)
    from its farthest corners I called(AC) you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;(AD)
    I have chosen(AE) you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear,(AF) for I am with you;(AG)
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen(AH) you and help(AI) you;
    I will uphold you(AJ) with my righteous right hand.(AK)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:2 Or east, / whom victory meets at every step