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The Futility of Idols

21 Set forth your case, says the Lord;
    bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.(A)
22 Let them bring them and tell us
    what is to happen.
Tell us the former things, what they were,
    so that we may consider them
and that we may know their outcome
    or declare to us the things to come.(B)
23 Tell us what is to come hereafter,
    that we may know that you are gods;
do good, or do harm,
    that we may be afraid and terrified.(C)
24 You, indeed, are nothing,
    and your work is nothing at all;
    whoever chooses you is an abomination.(D)

25 I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
    from the rising of the sun he was summoned by name.[a]
He shall trample[b] on rulers as on mortar,
    as the potter treads clay.(E)
26 Who declared it from the beginning, so that we might know,
    and beforehand, so that we might say, “He is right”?
There was no one who declared it, none who proclaimed,
    none who heard your words.(F)
27 I first have declared it to Zion,[c]
    and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings.(G)
28 But when I look there is no one;
    among these there is no counselor
    who, when I ask, gives an answer.(H)
29 No, they are all a delusion;
    their works are nothing;
    their images are empty wind.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 41.25 Compare Q ms Gk: MT he shall call on my name
  2. 41.25 Cn: Heb come
  3. 41.27 Cn Compare Q ms: Heb First to Zion—Behold, behold them

21 “Present your case,(A)” says the Lord.
    “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.(B)
22 “Tell us, you idols,
    what is going to happen.(C)
Tell us what the former things(D) were,
    so that we may consider them
    and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,(E)
23     tell us what the future holds,
    so we may know(F) that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,(G)
    so that we will be dismayed(H) and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing(I)
    and your works are utterly worthless;(J)
    whoever chooses you is detestable.(K)

25 “I have stirred(L) up one from the north,(M) and he comes—
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads(N) on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.
26 Who told of this from the beginning,(O) so we could know,
    or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
    no one foretold(P) it,
    no one heard any words(Q) from you.
27 I was the first to tell(R) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
    I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.(S)
28 I look but there is no one(T)
    no one among the gods to give counsel,(U)
    no one to give answer(V) when I ask them.
29 See, they are all false!
    Their deeds amount to nothing;(W)
    their images(X) are but wind(Y) and confusion.

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The Word of Life

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life(A) this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us(B) what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.(C) We are writing these things so that our[a] joy may be complete.

God Is Light

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.(D) If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.(E) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.(F) 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.(G)

Christ Our Advocate

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,(H) and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.(I)

Now by this we know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commandments. Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we know that we are in him:(J) whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk in the same way as he walked.(K)

Footnotes

  1. 1.4 Other ancient authorities read your

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

That which was from the beginning,(A) which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,(B) which we have looked at and our hands have touched(C)—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared;(D) we have seen it and testify to it,(E) and we proclaim to you the eternal life,(F) which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard,(G) so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.(H) We write this(I) to make our[a] joy complete.(J)

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

This is the message we have heard(K) from him and declare to you: God is light;(L) in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,(M) we lie and do not live out the truth.(N) But if we walk in the light,(O) as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.(P)

If we claim to be without sin,(Q) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.(R) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins(S) and purify us from all unrighteousness.(T) 10 If we claim we have not sinned,(U) we make him out to be a liar(V) and his word is not in us.(W)

My dear children,(X) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate(Y) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,(Z) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(AA)

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

We know(AB) that we have come to know him(AC) if we keep his commands.(AD) Whoever says, “I know him,”(AE) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.(AF) But if anyone obeys his word,(AG) love for God[c] is truly made complete in them.(AH) This is how we know(AI) we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your
  2. 1 John 1:7 Or every
  3. 1 John 2:5 Or word, God’s love