Isaiah 41:1-13

New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition

² Who has roused a victor from the east,
    summoned him to his service?
He delivers up nations to him,
    and tramples kings under foot;
he makes them like dust with his sword,
    like driven stubble with his bow.
³ He pursues them and passes on safely,
    scarcely touching the path with his feet.
⁴ Who has performed and done this,
    calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, am first,
    and will be with the last.
⁵ The coastlands have seen and are afraid,
    the ends of the earth tremble;
    they have drawn near and come.
⁶ Each one helps the other,
    saying to one another, ‘Take courage!’
⁷ The artisan encourages the goldsmith,
    and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, ‘It is good’;
    and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.
⁸ But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
⁹ you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, ‘You are my servant,
    I have chosen you and not cast you off’;
¹⁰ do not fear, for I am with you,
    do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

¹¹ Yes, all who are incensed against you
    shall be ashamed and disgraced;
those who strive against you
    shall be as nothing and shall perish.
¹² You shall seek those who contend with you,
    but you shall not find them;
those who war against you
    shall be as nothing at all.
¹³ For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear,
    I will help you.’