Isaiah 41:1–7

aKeep silence before me, O bislands;

And clet the people renew their strength:

Let them come near; then let them speak:

Let us come near together to judgment.

2  dWho raised up †the righteous man efrom the east,

Called him fto his foot,

ffGave the nations before him, and gmade him rule over kings?

He hgave them as the dust to his sword,

And as idriven stubble to his bow.

3  He pursued them, and passed †safely;

Even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

4  kWho hath wrought and done it,

Calling the generations from the beginning?

I the Lord, lthe first,

And with the last; mI am he.

5  nThe isles saw it, and feared;

The ends of the earth were afraid,

Drew near, and came.

6  They helped every one his neighbour;

And every one said to his brother, †Be of good courage.

7  oSo the carpenter encouraged the ||goldsmith,

And he that smootheth with the hammer ||him that smote the anvil,

||Saying, It is ready for the sodering:

And he fastened it with nails, pthat it should not be moved.