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.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:23 Or that we may both be dismayed and see
  2. Isaiah 41:27 Or Formerly I said

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

25 “I have stirred(J) up one from the north,(K) and he comes—
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads(L) on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.
26 Who told of this from the beginning,(M) so we could know,
    or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
    no one foretold(N) it,
    no one heard any words(O) from you.
27 I was the first to tell(P) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
    I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.(Q)

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