Isaiah 41:1–7

THE LORD VERSUS THE NATIONS’ GODS

41 “Be silent before me, coasts and islands!f

And let peoples renew their strength.

Let them approach; let them testify;

let’s come together for the trial.

2 Who has stirred up someone from the east?g

In righteousness he calls him to serve.A,B,h

The Lord hands nations over to him,i

and he subdues kings.

He makes them like dust with his sword,

like wind-driven stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them, going on safely,

hardly touching the path with his feet.

4 Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I am the Lord, the first

and with the lastj—I am he.”k

5 The coasts and islands see and are afraid,

the whole earth trembles.l

They approach and arrive.

6 Each one helps the other,

and says to another, “Take courage!”

7 The craftsman encourages the metalworker;m

the one who flattens with the hammer

encourages the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good.”

He fastens it with nails so that it will not fall over.n