Add parallel Print Page Options

The coastlands[a] see and are afraid;
the whole earth[b] trembles;
they approach and come.
They help one another;[c]
one says to the other, ‘Be strong!’
The craftsman encourages the metalsmith,
the one who wields the hammer encourages[d] the one who pounds on the anvil.
He approves the quality of the welding,[e]
and nails it down so it won’t fall over.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:5 tn Or “islands” (NIV, CEV); NCV “faraway places”; NLT “lands beyond the sea.”
  2. Isaiah 41:5 tn Heb “the ends of the earth,” but this is a merism, where the earth’s extremities stand for its entirety, i.e., the extremities and everything in between them.
  3. Isaiah 41:6 tn Heb “each his neighbor helps”; NCV “The workers help each other.”
  4. Isaiah 41:7 tn The verb “encourages” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  5. Isaiah 41:7 tn Heb “saying of the welding, ‘It is good.’”

The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.

They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

Read full chapter

The islands(A) have seen it and fear;
    the ends of the earth(B) tremble.
They approach and come forward;
    they help each other
    and say to their companions, “Be strong!(C)
The metalworker(D) encourages the goldsmith,(E)
    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.(F)

Read full chapter