(A)The coastlands have seen and are afraid;
    the ends of the earth tremble;
    they have drawn near and come.
Everyone helps his neighbor
    and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
(B)The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith,
    and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It is good”;
    and they strengthen it with nails (C)so that it cannot be moved.

But you, Israel, (D)my servant,
    Jacob, (E)whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, (F)my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called (G)from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are (H)my servant,
    (I)I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
10 fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with (J)my righteous right hand.

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Idolaters Encourage Each Other

“The coastlands have looked and are afraid;
    the ends of the earth have drawn near together[a]
        and come forward.
Each helps his neighbor,
    saying[b] to each other, ‘Be strong!’
The craftsman encourages the goldsmith,
    and the hammersmith[c] encourages the one who strikes the anvil.
He says[d] about the welding, ‘It’s good!’
    and he reinforces it with nails so that it won’t topple.”

The Lord Encourages Israel

“But as for you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I’ve chosen,
        the offspring of my friend Abraham—
you whom I encouraged from the ends of the earth
    and called from its farthest corners,
and told you, ‘You’re my servant,
    I’ve chosen you
        and haven’t cast you aside.’
10 Don’t be afraid,
    because I’m with you;
don’t be anxious,
    because I am your God.
I keep on strengthening you;
    I’m truly helping you.
I’m surely upholding you
    with my victorious right hand.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:5 So 1QIsaa LXX; MT reads earth tremble
  2. Isaiah 41:6 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT read and saying; cf. LXX
  3. Isaiah 41:7 Lit. he who smoothes with the hammer
  4. Isaiah 41:7 So 1QIsaa; MT reads saying