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Isaiah 41-42
Contemporary English Version
Isaiah 41-42
Contemporary English Version
The Lord Controls Human Events
41 Be silent and listen,
every island in the sea.
Have courage and come near,
every one of you nations.
Let's settle this matter!
2 Who appointed this ruler
from the east?[a]
Who puts nations and kings
in his power?[b]
His sword and his arrows
turn them to dust
blown by the wind.
3 He goes after them so quickly
that his feet
barely touch the ground—
he doesn't even get hurt.
4 Who makes these things happen?
Who controls human events?
I do! I am the Lord.
I was there at the beginning;
I will be there at the end.
5 Islands and foreign nations
saw what I did and trembled
as they came near.
What Can Idols Do?
6 Worshipers of idols
comfort each other,
saying, “Don't worry!”
7 Woodcarvers, goldsmiths,
and other workers[c]
encourage one another and say,
“We've done a great job!”
Then they nail the idol down,
so it won't fall over.
The Lord's Chosen Servant
8 (A) Israel, you are my servant.
I chose you, the family
of my friend Abraham.
9 From far across the earth
I brought you here and said,
“You are my chosen servant.
I haven't forgotten you.”
10 Don't be afraid. I am with you.
Don't tremble with fear.
I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
and give you victories.
11 Everyone who hates you
will be terribly disgraced;
those who attack
will vanish into thin air.
12 You will look around
for those brutal enemies,
but you won't find them—
they will be gone.
13 I am the Lord your God.
I am holding your hand,
so don't be afraid.
I am here to help you.
14 People of Israel, don't worry,
though others may say,
“Israel is only a worm!”
I am the holy God of Israel,
who saves and protects you.
15 I will let you be like a log
covered with sharp spikes.[d]
You will grind and crush
every mountain and hill[e]
until they turn to dust.
16 A strong wind will scatter them
in all directions.
Then you will celebrate
and praise me, your Lord,
the holy God of Israel.
The Lord Helps the Poor
17 When the poor and needy
are dying of thirst
and cannot find water,
I, the Lord God of Israel,
will come to their rescue.
I won't forget them.
18 I will make rivers flow
on mountain peaks.
I will send streams
to fill the valleys.
Dry and barren land
will flow with springs
and become a lake.
19 I will fill the desert
with all kinds of trees—
cedars, acacias, and myrtles;
olive and cypress trees;
fir trees and pines.
20 Everyone will see this
and know that I,
the holy Lord God of Israel,
created it all.
Idols Are Useless
21 I am the Lord,
the King of Israel!
Come argue your case with me.
Present your evidence.
22 Come near me, you idols.[f]
Tell us about the past,
and we will think about it.
Tell us about the future,
so we will know
what is going to happen.
23 Prove that you are gods
by making your predictions
come true.
Do something good or evil,
so we can be amazed
and terrified.[g]
24 You idols are nothing,
and you are powerless.[h]
To worship you
would be disgusting.
25 I, the Lord, appointed a ruler
in the north;
now he comes from the east
to honor my name.
He tramples[i] kings like mud,
as potters trample clay.[j]
26 Did any of you idols predict
what would happen?
Did any of you get it right?
None of you told about this
or even spoke a word.
27 I was the first to tell
the people of Jerusalem,
“Look, it's happening!”[k]
I was the one who announced
this good news to Zion.
28 None of these idols
are able to give advice
or answer questions.
29 They are nothing,[l]
and they can do nothing—
they are merely
a passing breeze.
The Lord's Servant
42 (B)(C) Here is my servant!
I have made him strong.
He is my chosen one;
I am pleased with him.
I have given him my Spirit,
and he will bring justice
to the nations.
2 He won't shout or yell
or call out in the streets.
3 He won't break off a bent reed
or put out a dying flame,
but he will make sure
that justice is done.
4 He won't quit or give up
until he brings justice
everywhere on earth,
and people in foreign nations
long for his teaching.
5 (D) I am the Lord God.
I created the heavens
like an open tent above.
I made the earth and everything
that grows on it.
I am the source of life
for all who live on this earth,
so listen to what I say.
6 (E) I chose you to bring justice,
and I am here at your side.
I selected you and sent you[m]
to bring light
and my promise of hope
to the nations.
7 You will give sight
to the blind;
you will set prisoners free
from dark dungeons.
8 My name is the Lord!
I won't let idols or humans
share my glory and praise.
9 Everything has happened
just as I said it would;
now I will announce
what will happen next.
Sing Praises to the Lord
10 Tell the whole world to sing
a new song to the Lord!
Tell those who sail the ocean
and those who live far away
to join in the praise.
11 Tell the tribes of the desert
and everyone in the mountains[n]
to celebrate and sing.
12 Let them announce
his praises everywhere.
13 The Lord is marching out
like an angry soldier,
shouting with all his might
while attacking his enemies.
The Lord Will Help His People
14 For a long time, I, the Lord,
have held my temper;
now I will cry out and groan
like a woman giving birth.
15 I will destroy the mountains
and what grows on them;
I will dry up rivers and ponds.
16 I will lead the blind on roads
they have never known;
I will guide them on paths
they have never traveled.
Their road is dark and rough,
but I will give light
to keep them from stumbling.
This is my solemn promise.
17 Everyone who worships idols
as though they were gods
will be terribly ashamed.
God's People Won't Obey
18 You people are deaf and blind,
but the Lord commands you
to listen and to see.
19 No one is as blind or deaf
as his messenger,
his chosen servant,
20 who sees and hears so much,
but pays no attention.
21 The Lord always does right,
and so he wanted his Law
to be greatly praised.[o]
22 But his people were trapped
and imprisoned in holes
with no one to rescue them.
All they owned had been taken,
and no one was willing
to give it back.
23 Why won't his people
ever learn to listen?
24 Israel sinned and refused
to obey the Lord
or follow his instructions.
So the Lord let us be robbed
of everything we owned.
25 He was furious with us
and punished our nation
with the fires of war.
Still we paid no attention.
We didn't even care
when we were surrounded
and scorched by flames.
Footnotes
- 41.2 ruler from the east: Probably Cyrus (see 44.28; 45.1; 48.14).
- 41.2 Who puts … power: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 41.7 and other workers: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 41.15 I will let … sharp spikes: In ancient times a heavy object was sometimes dragged over wheat or barley to separate the grain from the husk. This was called threshing.
- 41.15 mountain and hill: These stand for the power and pride of Israel's enemies.
- 41.22 Come near … idols: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 41.23 and terrified: Or “when we see it.”
- 41.24 powerless: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 41.25 tramples: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 41.25 trample clay: This was done to soften the clay and make it easier to shape.
- 41.27 Look … happening: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 41.29 nothing: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 42.6 I selected … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 42.11 desert … mountains: The Hebrew text includes the place names of Kedar in the desert and Sela in the mountains.
- 42.21 greatly praised: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 21.
Isaiah 41-42
New International Version
Isaiah 41-42
New International Version
The Helper of Israel
41 “Be silent(A) before me, you islands!(B)
Let the nations renew their strength!(C)
Let them come forward(D) and speak;
let us meet together(E) at the place of judgment.
2 “Who has stirred(F) up one from the east,(G)
calling him in righteousness(H) to his service[a]?(I)
He hands nations over to him
and subdues kings before him.
He turns them to dust(J) with his sword,
to windblown chaff(K) with his bow.(L)
3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed,(M)
by a path his feet have not traveled before.
4 Who has done this and carried it through,
calling(N) forth the generations from the beginning?(O)
I, the Lord—with the first of them
and with the last(P)—I am he.(Q)”
5 The islands(R) have seen it and fear;
the ends of the earth(S) tremble.
They approach and come forward;
6 they help each other
and say to their companions, “Be strong!(T)”
7 The metalworker(U) encourages the goldsmith,(V)
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.(W)
8 “But you, Israel, my servant,(X)
Jacob, whom I have chosen,(Y)
you descendants of Abraham(Z) my friend,(AA)
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,(AB)
from its farthest corners I called(AC) you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;(AD)
I have chosen(AE) you and have not rejected you.
10 So do not fear,(AF) for I am with you;(AG)
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen(AH) you and help(AI) you;
I will uphold you(AJ) with my righteous right hand.(AK)
11 “All who rage(AL) against you
will surely be ashamed and disgraced;(AM)
those who oppose(AN) you
will be as nothing and perish.(AO)
12 Though you search for your enemies,
you will not find them.(AP)
Those who wage war against you
will be as nothing(AQ) at all.
13 For I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand(AR)
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help(AS) you.
14 Do not be afraid,(AT) you worm(AU) Jacob,
little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help(AV) you,” declares the Lord,
your Redeemer,(AW) the Holy One(AX) of Israel.
15 “See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,(AY)
new and sharp, with many teeth.
You will thresh the mountains(AZ) and crush them,
and reduce the hills to chaff.(BA)
16 You will winnow(BB) them, the wind will pick them up,
and a gale(BC) will blow them away.(BD)
But you will rejoice(BE) in the Lord
and glory(BF) in the Holy One(BG) of Israel.
17 “The poor and needy search for water,(BH)
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.(BI)
But I the Lord will answer(BJ) them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake(BK) them.
18 I will make rivers flow(BL) on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert(BM) into pools of water,(BN)
and the parched ground into springs.(BO)
19 I will put in the desert(BP)
the cedar and the acacia,(BQ) the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers(BR) in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress(BS) together,(BT)
20 so that people may see and know,(BU)
may consider and understand,(BV)
that the hand(BW) of the Lord has done this,
that the Holy One(BX) of Israel has created(BY) it.
21 “Present your case,(BZ)” says the Lord.
“Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.(CA)
22 “Tell us, you idols,
what is going to happen.(CB)
Tell us what the former things(CC) were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,(CD)
23 tell us what the future holds,
so we may know(CE) that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,(CF)
so that we will be dismayed(CG) and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing(CH)
and your works are utterly worthless;(CI)
whoever chooses you is detestable.(CJ)
25 “I have stirred(CK) up one from the north,(CL) and he comes—
one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads(CM) on rulers as if they were mortar,
as if he were a potter treading the clay.
26 Who told of this from the beginning,(CN) so we could know,
or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
no one foretold(CO) it,
no one heard any words(CP) from you.
27 I was the first to tell(CQ) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.(CR)
28 I look but there is no one(CS)—
no one among the gods to give counsel,(CT)
no one to give answer(CU) when I ask them.
29 See, they are all false!
Their deeds amount to nothing;(CV)
their images(CW) are but wind(CX) and confusion.
The Servant of the Lord
42 “Here is my servant,(CY) whom I uphold,
my chosen one(CZ) in whom I delight;(DA)
I will put my Spirit(DB) on him,
and he will bring justice(DC) to the nations.(DD)
2 He will not shout or cry out,(DE)
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed(DF) he will not break,(DG)
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.(DH)
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;(DI)
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice(DJ) on earth.
In his teaching(DK) the islands(DL) will put their hope.”(DM)
5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,(DN) who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth(DO) with all that springs from it,(DP)
who gives breath(DQ) to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called(DR) you in righteousness;(DS)
I will take hold of your hand.(DT)
I will keep(DU) you and will make you
to be a covenant(DV) for the people
and a light(DW) for the Gentiles,(DX)
7 to open eyes that are blind,(DY)
to free(DZ) captives from prison(EA)
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.(EB)
8 “I am the Lord;(EC) that is my name!(ED)
I will not yield my glory to another(EE)
or my praise to idols.(EF)
9 See, the former things(EG) have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce(EH) them to you.”
Song of Praise to the Lord
10 Sing(EI) to the Lord a new song,(EJ)
his praise(EK) from the ends of the earth,(EL)
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,(EM)
you islands,(EN) and all who live in them.
11 Let the wilderness(EO) and its towns raise their voices;
let the settlements where Kedar(EP) lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela(EQ) sing for joy;
let them shout from the mountaintops.(ER)
12 Let them give glory(ES) to the Lord
and proclaim his praise(ET) in the islands.(EU)
13 The Lord will march out like a champion,(EV)
like a warrior(EW) he will stir up his zeal;(EX)
with a shout(EY) he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.(EZ)
14 “For a long time I have kept silent,(FA)
I have been quiet and held myself back.(FB)
But now, like a woman in childbirth,
I cry out, I gasp and pant.(FC)
15 I will lay waste(FD) the mountains(FE) and hills
and dry up all their vegetation;
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up(FF) the pools.
16 I will lead(FG) the blind(FH) by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light(FI) before them
and make the rough places smooth.(FJ)
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake(FK) them.
17 But those who trust in idols,
who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’(FL)
will be turned back in utter shame.(FM)
Israel Blind and Deaf
18 “Hear, you deaf;(FN)
look, you blind, and see!
19 Who is blind(FO) but my servant,(FP)
and deaf like the messenger(FQ) I send?
Who is blind like the one in covenant(FR) with me,
blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention;
your ears are open, but you do not listen.”(FS)
21 It pleased the Lord
for the sake(FT) of his righteousness
to make his law(FU) great and glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered(FV) and looted,
all of them trapped in pits(FW)
or hidden away in prisons.(FX)
They have become plunder,
with no one to rescue them;(FY)
they have been made loot,
with no one to say, “Send them back.”
23 Which of you will listen to this
or pay close attention(FZ) in time to come?
24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,
and Israel to the plunderers?(GA)
Was it not the Lord,(GB)
against whom we have sinned?
For they would not follow(GC) his ways;
they did not obey his law.(GD)
25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,(GE)
the violence of war.
It enveloped them in flames,(GF) yet they did not understand;(GG)
it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.(GH)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 41:2 Or east, / whom victory meets at every step
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