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Isaiah 41
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Isaiah 41
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 41
The Liberator of Israel
1 Keep silence before me, O coastlands;[a]
let the nations renew their strength.
Let them draw near and speak;
let us come together for judgment.
2 Who has stirred up from the East the champion of justice,
and summoned him to be his attendant?
To him he delivers nations
and subdues kings;
With his sword he reduces them to dust,
with his bow, to driven straw.
3 He pursues them, passing on without loss,
by a path his feet scarcely touch.
4 Who has performed these deeds?
Who has called forth the generations from the beginning?(A)
I, the Lord, am the first,
and at the last[b] I am he.
5 The coastlands see, and fear;
the ends of the earth tremble:
they approach, they come on.
6 Each one helps his neighbor,
one says to the other, “Courage!”
7 The woodworker encourages the goldsmith,
the one who beats with the hammer, him who strikes on the anvil,
Saying of the soldering, “It is good!”
then fastening it with nails so it will not totter.
8 But you, Israel, my servant,(B)
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
offspring of Abraham my friend—
9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth
and summoned from its far-off places,
To whom I have said, You are my servant;
I chose you, I have not rejected you—
10 Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
11 Yes, all shall be put to shame and disgrace
who vent their anger against you;
Those shall be as nothing and perish
who offer resistance.
12 You shall seek but not find
those who strive against you;
They shall be as nothing at all
who do battle with you.
13 For I am the Lord, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, Do not fear,
I will help you.
14 Do not fear, you worm Jacob,
you maggot Israel;
I will help you—oracle of the Lord;
the Holy One of Israel is your redeemer.[c]
15 I will make of you a threshing sledge,
sharp, new, full of teeth,
To thresh the mountains and crush them,
to make the hills like chaff.
16 When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off,
the storm shall scatter them.
But you shall rejoice in the Lord;
in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.
17 The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the Lord, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the wilderness into a marshland,
and the dry ground into springs of water.
19 In the wilderness I will plant the cedar,
acacia, myrtle, and olive;
In the wasteland I will set the cypress,
together with the plane tree and the pine,
20 That all may see and know,
observe and understand,
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.
21 Present your case, says the Lord;[d]
bring forward your arguments, says the King of Jacob.
22 Let them draw near and foretell to us
what it is that shall happen!
What are the things of long ago?
Tell us, that we may reflect on them
and know their outcome;
Or declare to us the things to come,[e]
23 tell what is to be in the future,
that we may know that you are gods!
Do something, good or evil,
that will put us in awe and in fear.
24 Why, you are nothing
and your work is nought;
to choose you is an abomination!
25 I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes;
from the east I summon him[f] by name;
He shall trample the rulers down like mud,
like a potter treading clay.
26 Who announced this from the beginning, that we might know;
beforehand, that we might say, “True”?
Not one of you foretold it, not one spoke;
not one heard you say,
27 “The first news for Zion: here they come,”
or, “I will give Jerusalem a herald of good news.”
28 When I look, there is not one,
not one of them to give counsel,
to make an answer when I question them.
29 Ah, all of them are nothing,
their works are nought,
their idols, empty wind!
Footnotes
- 41:1–4 Earlier prophets had spoken of the Assyrians and Babylonians as the Lord’s instruments for the punishment of Israel’s sins; here the Lord is described as raising up and giving victory to a foreign ruler in order to deliver Israel from the Babylonian exile. The ruler is Cyrus (44:28; 45:1), king of Anshan in Persia, a vassal of the Babylonians. He rebelled against the Babylonian overlords in 556 B.C., and after a series of victories, entered Babylon as victor in 539; the following year he issued a decree which allowed the Jewish captives to return to their homeland (2 Chr 36:22–23; Ezr 1:1–4). For Second Isaiah, the meteoric success of Cyrus was the work of the Lord to accomplish the deliverance promised by earlier prophets.
- 41:4 The first…the last: God as the beginning and end encompasses all reality. The same designation is used in 44:6 and 48:12.
- 41:14 Redeemer: in Hebrew, go’el, one who frees others from slavery and avenges their sufferings; cf. Lv 25:48; Dt 19:6, 12. Cf. note on Ru 2:20.
- 41:21–29 This indictment of Babylonian gods is patterned on a legal trial, in which they are challenged to prove power over events of history and so justify their status as gods (vv. 21–24). Israel’s God, on the other hand, has foretold and now brings to pass Israel’s deliverance (vv. 25–27). The accused are unable to respond (vv. 28–29). By such polemics (see also 43:12) the prophet declares that all gods other than the Lord are nonexistent; this implicit claim of monotheism later becomes explicit (see 43:10–11; 45:5–7, 14, 18, 21–22; 46:9; and note on 44:6).
- 41:22 Things of long ago…things to come: there are no predictions attributed to idols that have since been fulfilled. Second Isaiah makes frequent reference to “things of long ago,” sometimes in conjunction with “things to come” or “new things” in connection with the Lord’s activity (cf. 42:9; 43:9, 18; 46:9–10; 48:3–8); both the old things (e.g., creation, exodus) and the new things (release from exile) God brings to pass (cf. 51:9–11), which is why he can declare them beforehand.
- 41:25 I summon him: Cyrus.
Isaías 41
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Isaías 41
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Promesa de ayuda a Israel
41 «Guarden silencio ante Mí(A), costas[a](B),
Y renueven sus fuerzas los pueblos(C).
Acérquense(D) y entonces hablen,
Juntos vengamos a juicio(E).
2 -»¿Quién ha levantado del oriente(F)
Al que Él llama en justicia(G) a Sus pies[b]?
Ante Él entrega naciones(H),
Y a reyes somete(I).
Los deja como polvo con su espada(J),
Como hojarasca los dispersa con su arco(K),
3 Los persigue, pasando seguros
Por una senda por donde no habían andado[c] sus pies.
4 -»¿Quién lo ha hecho y lo ha realizado,
Llamando a las generaciones desde el principio(L)?
Yo, el Señor, soy el primero, y con los postreros(M) soy(N)».
5 ¶Las costas[d](O) han visto y temen,
Tiemblan los confines de la tierra(P),
Se han acercado y han venido.
6 Cada uno ayuda a su prójimo,
Y dice a su hermano: «Sé fuerte».
7 El artífice anima al fundidor,
Y el que alisa a martillo, al que bate el yunque(Q),
Diciendo de la soldadura: «Está bien».
Entonces[e] asegura su obra con clavos,
Para que no se mueva(R).
8 «Pero tú, Israel, siervo Mío(S),
Jacob, a quien he escogido,
Descendiente[f] de Abraham(T), Mi amigo(U).
9 -»Tú, a quien tomé de los confines de la tierra(V),
Y desde sus lugares más remotos te llamé(W),
Y te dije: “Mi siervo eres tú;
Yo te he escogido(X) y no te he rechazado.
10 -”No temas, porque Yo estoy contigo(Y);
No te desalientes[g], porque Yo soy tu Dios.
Te fortaleceré, ciertamente te ayudaré(Z),
Sí, te sostendré con la diestra de Mi justicia(AA)”.
11 -»Ciertamente, los que se enojan contra ti serán avergonzados(AB) y humillados[h].
Los que luchen contigo serán como nada y perecerán(AC).
12 -»Buscarás a los que riñen contigo, pero no los hallarás.
Serán como nada, como si no existieran(AD), los que te hacen guerra.
13 -»Porque Yo soy el Señor tu Dios, que sostiene tu diestra(AE),
Que te dice: “No temas, Yo te ayudaré(AF)”.
14 -»No temas, gusano(AG) de Jacob, ustedes hombres de Israel.
Yo te ayudaré», declara el Señor, «tu Redentor es el Santo[i] de Israel(AH).
15 -»Te he convertido en trillo nuevo, cortante, de doble filo;
Trillarás los montes(AI) y los harás polvo(AJ),
Y los collados dejarás como hojarasca(AK).
16 -»Los aventarás(AL), el viento se los llevará,
Y la tempestad los dispersará.
Pero tú te regocijarás en el Señor(AM),
En el Santo de Israel te gloriarás.
17 ¶»Los afligidos[j] y los necesitados buscan agua, pero no la hay,
Su lengua está reseca de sed.
Yo, el Señor, les responderé(AN),
Yo, el Dios de Israel, no los abandonaré(AO).
18 -»Abriré ríos en las alturas desoladas(AP),
Y manantiales en medio de los valles.
Transformaré el desierto en estanque de aguas,
Y la tierra seca en manantiales(AQ).
19 -»Pondré en los desiertos el cedro,
La acacia, el mirto(AR) y el olivo[k];
Pondré en el lugar desolado el ciprés(AS),
Junto con el olmo y el boj(AT),
20 Para que vean y entiendan(AU),
Consideren y comprendan a una
Que la mano del Señor ha hecho esto(AV),
Que el Santo de Israel lo ha creado.
21 ¶»Presenten[l] su causa», dice el Señor.
«Expongan sus fuertes argumentos»,
Dice el Rey de Jacob(AW).
22 Que expongan y nos declaren lo que ha de suceder(AX).
En cuanto a los hechos anteriores, declaren lo que fueron,
Para que los consideremos[m] y sepamos su resultado,
O bien, anúnciennos lo que ha de venir(AY).
23 Declaren lo que ha de suceder en el futuro(AZ),
Para que sepamos que ustedes son dioses(BA).
Sí, hagan algo bueno o malo, para que nos desalentemos[n] y temamos a una(BB).
24 Miren, ustedes no son nada,
Y su obra es vana(BC);
Abominación(BD) es el que los escoge(BE).
25 ¶«Del norte levanté a uno(BF), y ha venido.
Del nacimiento del sol invocará Mi nombre,
Y vendrá sobre los gobernantes(BG), como sobre lodo,
Como el alfarero pisotea el barro(BH)».
26 ¿Quién lo anunció desde el principio, para que supiéramos,
O desde tiempos antiguos(BI), para que dijéramos: «Tiene razón?».
Ciertamente no había quien lo anunciara,
Sí, no había quien lo proclamara,
Ciertamente no había quien oyera sus palabras(BJ).
27 «Dije primero a Sión(BK): “Mira, aquí están”,
Y a Jerusalén: “Les daré un mensajero de buenas nuevas(BL)”.
28 -»Pero cuando miro, no hay nadie(BM),
Y entre ellos[o] no hay consejeros(BN)
A quienes, si les pregunto, puedan responder(BO).
29 -»Pues todos ellos son falsos[p];
Sus obras inútiles(BP),
Viento(BQ) y vacuidad sus imágenes fundidas(BR).
Footnotes
- 41:1 O islas.
- 41:2 Lit. su pie.
- 41:3 Lit. no había ido con.
- 41:5 O islas.
- 41:7 Lit. Y lo.
- 41:8 Lit. simiente.
- 41:10 O no seas receloso.
- 41:11 O confundidos.
- 41:14 O y tu Redentor, el Santo.
- 41:17 O pobres.
- 41:19 U oleastro.
- 41:21 Lit. Acercad.
- 41:22 Lit. pongamos nuestro corazón.
- 41:23 O seamos recelosos.
- 41:28 Lit. y de estos.
- 41:29 Otra posible lectura es: nada.
Isaiah 41
New International Version
Isaiah 41
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.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 41:2 Or east, / whom victory meets at every step
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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