Isaiah 41

God’s Help for Israel

41“Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea. Bring your strongest arguments. Come now and speak. The court is ready for your case.H2790H339H3816H2498H3581H5066H1696H7126H3162H49412“Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God’s service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.H5782H6664H4217H7121H7272H5414H1471H6440H7287H4428H5414H6083H2719H5086H7179H71983He chases them away and goes on safely, though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.H7291H5674H7965H734H935H72724Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”H6466H6213H7121H1755H7218H3068H7223H3145The lands beyond the sea watch in fear. Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.H339H7200H3372H7098H776H2729H7126H8576The idol makers encourage one another, saying to each other, “Be strong!”H5826H376H7453H559H251H23887The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.” Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.H2796H2388H6884H2505H6360H1986H6471H559H2896H1694H2388H4548H41318“But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend,H3478H5650H3290H977H2233H85H1579I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.H2388H7098H776H7121H678H559H5650H977H398810Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.H3372H8159H430H553H5826H8551H3225H666411“See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing.H2734H954H3637H582H7379H612You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing.H1245H4672H582H4695H4421H65713For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.H3068H430H2388H3225H559H3372H582614Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the Lord, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.’H3372H8438H3290H4962H3478H5826H5002H3068H1350H6918H347815You will be a new threshing instrument with many sharp teeth. You will tear your enemies apart, making chaff of mountains.H7760H2319H2742H4173H1167H6374H1758H2022H1854H7760H1389H467116You will toss them into the air, and the wind will blow them all away; a whirlwind will scatter them. Then you will rejoice in the Lord. You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.H2219H7307H5375H5591H6327H1523H3068H1984H6918H347817“When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.H6041H34H1245H4325H3956H5405H6772H3068H6030H430H3478H580018I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.H6605H5104H8205H4599H8432H1237H7760H4057H98H4325H6723H776H4161H432519I will plant trees in the barren desert—cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.H5414H4057H730H7848H1918H8081H6086H7760H6160H1265H8410H8391H316220I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means—that it is the Lord who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it.H7200H3045H7760H7919H3162H3027H3068H6213H6918H3478H125421“Present the case for your idols,” says the Lord. “Let them show what they can do,” says the King of Israel

.H7126H7379H559H3068H5066H6110H559H4428H329022“Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what’s going to happen.H5066H5046H7136H5046H7223H7760H3820H3045H319H8085H93523Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything—good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us.H5046H857H268H3045H430H3190H7489H8159H7200H316224But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves.H369H6467H659H8441H97725“But I have stirred up a leader who will come from the north. I have called him by name from the east. I will give him victory over kings and princes. He will trample them as a potter treads on clay.H5782H6828H857H4217H8121H7121H8034H935H5461H2563H3335H7429H291626“Who told you from the beginning that this would happen? Who predicted this, making you admit that he was right? No one said a word!H5046H7218H3045H6440H559H6662H5046H8085H8085H56127I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look! Help is on the way!’

I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news.H7223H6726H2009H2009H5414H3389H131928Not one of your idols told you this. Not one gave any answer when I asked.H7200H376H3289H7592H7725H169729See, they are all foolish, worthless things. All your idols are as empty as the wind.H205H4639H657H5262H7307H8414