Isaiah 41:1–16

The Helper of Israel

41 “Be silentn before me, you islands!o

Let the nations renew their strength!p

Let them come forwardq and speak;

let us meet togetherr at the place of judgment.

2 “Who has stirreds up one from the east,t

calling him in righteousnessu to his servicea?v

He hands nations over to him

and subdues kings before him.

He turns them to dustw with his sword,

to windblown chaffx with his bow.y

3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed,z

by a path his feet have not traveled before.

4 Who has done this and carried it through,

callinga forth the generations from the beginning?b

I, the Lord—with the first of them

and with the lastc—I am he.d”

5 The islandse have seen it and fear;

the ends of the earthf tremble.

They approach and come forward;

6 they help each other

and say to their companions, “Be strong!g”

7 The metalworkerh encourages the goldsmith,i

and the one who smooths with the hammer

spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.

One says of the welding, “It is good.”

The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.j

8 “But you, Israel, my servant,k

Jacob, whom I have chosen,l

you descendants of Abrahamm my friend,n

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,o

from its farthest corners I calledp you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;q

I have chosenr you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear,s for I am with you;t

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthenu you and helpv you;

I will uphold youw with my righteous right hand.x

11 “All who ragey against you

will surely be ashamed and disgraced;z

those who opposea you

will be as nothing and perish.b

12 Though you search for your enemies,

you will not find them.c

Those who wage war against you

will be as nothingd at all.

13 For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hande

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will helpf you.

14 Do not be afraid,g you wormh Jacob,

little Israel, do not fear,

for I myself will helpi you,” declares the Lord,

your Redeemer,j the Holy Onek of Israel.

15 “See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,l

new and sharp, with many teeth.

You will thresh the mountainsm and crush them,

and reduce the hills to chaff.n

16 You will winnowo them, the wind will pick them up,

and a galep will blow them away.q

But you will rejoicer in the Lord

and glorys in the Holy Onet of Israel.