Isaiah 40:18-41:10

New International Version

¹⁸ With whom, then, will you compare God?^(A)
    To what image^(B) will you liken him?
¹⁹ As for an idol,^(C) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith^(D) overlays it with gold^(E)
    and fashions silver chains for it.
²⁰ A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood^(F) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol^(G) that will not topple.^(H)

²¹ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(I)
Has it not been told^(J) you from the beginning?^(K)
    Have you not understood^(L) since the earth was founded?^(M)
22 He sits enthroned^(N) above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.^(O)
He stretches out the heavens^(P) like a canopy,^(Q)
    and spreads them out like a tent^(R) to live in.^(S)
23 He brings princes^(T) to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.^(U)
24 No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root^(V) in the ground,
than he blows^(W) on them and they wither,^(X)
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.^(Y)

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me?^(Z)
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.^(AA)
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:^(AB)
    Who created^(AC) all these?
He who brings out the starry host^(AD) one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,^(AE)
    not one of them is missing.^(AF)

²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?^(AG)
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?^(AH)
The Lord is the everlasting^(AI) God,
    the Creator^(AJ) of the ends of the earth.^(AK)
He will not grow tired or weary,^(AL)
    and his understanding no one can fathom.^(AM)
29 He gives strength^(AN) to the weary^(AO)
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men^(AP) stumble and fall;^(AQ)
31 but those who hope^(AR) in the Lord
    will renew their strength.^(AS)
They will soar on wings like eagles;^(AT)
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.^(AU)

² “Who has stirred^(BA) up one from the east,^(BB)
    calling him in righteousness^(BC) to his service^[a]?^(BD)
He hands nations over to him
    and subdues kings before him.
He turns them to dust^(BE) with his sword,
    to windblown chaff^(BF) with his bow.^(BG)
3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed,^(BH)
    by a path his feet have not traveled before.
⁴ Who has done this and carried it through,
    calling^(BI) forth the generations from the beginning?^(BJ)
I, the Lord—with the first of them
    and with the last^(BK)—I am he.^(BL)”

⁵ The islands^(BM) have seen it and fear;
    the ends of the earth^(BN) tremble.
They approach and come forward;
⁶     they help each other
    and say to their companions, “Be strong!^(BO)”
⁷ The metalworker^(BP) encourages the goldsmith,^(BQ)
    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.^(BR)

⁸ “But you, Israel, my servant,^(BS)
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,^(BT)
    you descendants of Abraham^(BU) my friend,^(BV)
9 I took you from the ends of the earth,^(BW)
    from its farthest corners I called^(BX) you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;^(BY)
    I have chosen^(BZ) you and have not rejected you.
¹⁰ So do not fear,^(CA) for I am with you;^(CB)
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen^(CC) you and help^(CD) you;
    I will uphold you^(CE) with my righteous right hand.^(CF)