Isaiah 42:1-17

Good News Translation

The Lord's Servant

42 ^(A)The Lord says,

“Here is my servant, whom I strengthen—
    the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased.
I have filled him with my Spirit,
    and he will bring justice to every nation.
²He will not shout or raise his voice
    or make loud speeches in the streets.
³He will not break off a bent reed
    nor put out a flickering lamp.
He will bring lasting justice to all.
⁴He will not lose hope or courage;
    he will establish justice on the earth.
    Distant lands eagerly wait for his teaching.”

⁵^(B)God created the heavens and stretched them out;
    he fashioned the earth and all that lives there;
    he gave life and breath to all its people.
And now the Lord God says to his servant,
⁶^(C)“I, the Lord, have called you and given you power
    to see that justice is done on earth.
Through you I will make a covenant with all peoples;
    through you I will bring light to the nations.
⁷You will open the eyes of the blind
    and set free those who sit in dark prisons.

⁸“I alone am the Lord your God.
    No other god may share my glory;
    I will not let idols share my praise.
⁹The things I predicted have now come true.
Now I will tell you of new things
    even before they begin to happen.”

A Song of Praise

¹⁰Sing a new song to the Lord;
    sing his praise, all the world!
Praise him, you that sail the sea;
    praise him, all creatures of the sea!
Sing, distant lands and all who live there!
¹¹Let the desert and its towns praise God;
    let the people of Kedar praise him!
Let those who live in the city of Sela
    shout for joy from the tops of the mountains!
¹²Let those who live in distant lands
    give praise and glory to the Lord!
¹³The Lord goes out to fight like a warrior;
    he is ready and eager for battle.
    He gives a war cry, a battle shout;
    he shows his power against his enemies.

God Promises to Help His People

¹⁴God says,

“For a long time I kept silent;
    I did not answer my people.
But now the time to act has come;
    I cry out like a woman in labor.
¹⁵I will destroy the hills and mountains
    and dry up the grass and trees.
I will turn the river valleys into deserts^[a]
    and dry up the pools of water.

¹⁶“I will lead my blind people
    by roads they have never traveled.
I will turn their darkness into light
    and make rough country smooth before them.
These are my promises,
    and I will keep them without fail.
¹⁷All who trust in idols,
    who call images their gods,
    will be humiliated and disgraced.”