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

The islands(M) have seen it and fear;
    the ends of the earth(N) tremble.
They approach and come forward;
    they help each other
    and say to their companions, “Be strong!(O)
The metalworker(P) encourages the goldsmith,(Q)
    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.(R)

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Footnotes

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

Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.

He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.

The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.

They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

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25 “I have stirred(A) up one from the north,(B) and he comes—
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads(C) on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.

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25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

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