Isaiah 42:1-9

Easy-to-Read Version

The Lord’s Special Servant

42 “Here is my servant,
    the one I support.
He is the one I have chosen,
    and I am very pleased with him.
I have filled him with my Spirit,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
²He will not cry out or shout
    or try to make himself heard in the streets.
³He will not break even a crushed reed.^[a]
    He will not put out even the weakest flame.
    He will bring true justice.
⁴He will not grow weak or give up
    until he has brought justice to the world.
    And people in faraway places will hope to receive his teachings.”

The Lord Is Ruler and Maker of the World

⁵The Lord, the true God, said these things. (He created the sky and spread it out over the earth. He formed the earth and everything it produced. He breathes life into all the people on earth. He gives a spirit to everyone who walks on the earth.)

⁶“I, the Lord, was right to call you.
    I will hold your hand and protect you.
You will be the sign of my agreement with the people.
    You will be a light for the other nations.
⁷You will make the blind able to see.
    You will free those who are held as captives.
    You will lead those who live in darkness out of their prison.

⁸“I am Yahweh.
    That is my name.
I will not give my glory to another.
    I will not let statues take the praise that should be mine.
⁹In the past, I told you what would happen,
    and it happened!
Now I am telling you something new,
    and I am telling you now, before it happens.”