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Isaiah 41:21-29
English Standard Version
Isaiah 41:21-29
English Standard Version
The Futility of Idols
21 Set forth your case, says the Lord;
bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
22 Let them bring them, and (A)tell us
what is to happen.
Tell us the former things, what they are,
that we may consider them,
that we may know their outcome;
or declare to us the things to come.
23 (B)Tell us what is to come hereafter,
that we may know that you are gods;
(C)do good, or do harm,
that we may be dismayed and terrified.[a]
24 Behold, (D)you are nothing,
and your work is less than nothing;
an abomination is he who chooses you.
25 (E)I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,
(F)from the rising of the sun, (G)and he shall call upon my name;
he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,
as the potter treads clay.
26 (H)Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know,
and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”?
There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,
none who heard your words.
27 (I)I was the first to say[b] to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”
and (J)I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
28 (K)But when I look, there is no one;
among these there is no counselor
who, when I ask, gives an answer.
29 (L)Behold, they are all a delusion;
their works are nothing;
their metal images are empty wind.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 41:23 Or that we may both be dismayed and see
- Isaiah 41:27 Or Formerly I said
Isaiah 41:21-29
New International Version
Isaiah 41:21-29
New International Version
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.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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.