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Isaiah 41:17-29
The Message
Isaiah 41:17-29
The Message
17-20 “The poor and homeless are desperate for water,
their tongues parched and no water to be found.
But I’m there to be found, I’m there for them,
and I, God of Israel, will not leave them thirsty.
I’ll open up rivers for them on the barren hills,
spout fountains in the valleys.
I’ll turn the baked-clay badlands into a cool pond,
the waterless waste into splashing creeks.
I’ll plant the red cedar in that treeless wasteland,
also acacia, myrtle, and olive.
I’ll place the cypress in the desert,
with plenty of oaks and pines.
Everyone will see this. No one can miss it—
unavoidable, indisputable evidence
That I, God, personally did this.
It’s created and signed by The Holy of Israel.
21-24 “Set out your case for your gods,” says God.
“Bring your evidence,” says the King of Jacob.
“Take the stand on behalf of your idols, offer arguments,
assemble reasons.
Spread out the facts before us
so that we can assess them ourselves.
Ask them, ‘If you are gods, explain what the past means—
or, failing that, tell us what will happen in the future.
Can’t do that?
How about doing something—anything!
Good or bad—whatever.
Can you hurt us or help us? Do we need to be afraid?’
They say nothing, because they are nothing—
sham gods, no-gods, fool-making gods.
25-29 “I, God, started someone out from the north and he’s come.
He was called out of the east by name.
He’ll stomp the rulers into the mud
the way a potter works the clay.
Let me ask you, Did anyone guess that this might happen?
Did anyone tell us earlier so we might confirm it
with ‘Yes, he’s right!’?
No one mentioned it, no one announced it,
no one heard a peep out of you.
But I told Zion all about this beforehand.
I gave Jerusalem a preacher of good news.
But around here there’s no one—
no one who knows what’s going on.
I ask, but no one can tell me the score.
Nothing here. It’s all smoke and hot air—
sham gods, hollow gods, no-gods.”
Isaiah 41:17-29
New International Version
Isaiah 41:17-29
New International Version
17 “The poor and needy search for water,(A)
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.(B)
But I the Lord will answer(C) them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake(D) them.
18 I will make rivers flow(E) on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert(F) into pools of water,(G)
and the parched ground into springs.(H)
19 I will put in the desert(I)
the cedar and the acacia,(J) the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers(K) in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress(L) together,(M)
20 so that people may see and know,(N)
may consider and understand,(O)
that the hand(P) of the Lord has done this,
that the Holy One(Q) of Israel has created(R) it.
21 “Present your case,(S)” says the Lord.
“Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.(T)
22 “Tell us, you idols,
what is going to happen.(U)
Tell us what the former things(V) were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,(W)
23 tell us what the future holds,
so we may know(X) that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,(Y)
so that we will be dismayed(Z) and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing(AA)
and your works are utterly worthless;(AB)
whoever chooses you is detestable.(AC)
25 “I have stirred(AD) up one from the north,(AE) and he comes—
one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads(AF) on rulers as if they were mortar,
as if he were a potter treading the clay.
26 Who told of this from the beginning,(AG) so we could know,
or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
no one foretold(AH) it,
no one heard any words(AI) from you.
27 I was the first to tell(AJ) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.(AK)
28 I look but there is no one(AL)—
no one among the gods to give counsel,(AM)
no one to give answer(AN) when I ask them.
29 See, they are all false!
Their deeds amount to nothing;(AO)
their images(AP) are but wind(AQ) and confusion.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New International Version (NIV) 
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.