2 “Who has stirred up one from the east,

calling him in righteousness to his service?

He hands nations over to him

and subdues kings before him.

He turns them to dust with his sword,

to windblown chaff with his bow.

3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed,

by a path his feet have not traveled before.

4 Who has done this and carried it through,

calling forth the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord—with the first of them

and with the last—I am he.”

5 The islands have seen it and fear;

the ends of the earth tremble.

They approach and come forward;

6 they help each other

and say to their companions, “Be strong!”

7 The metalworker encourages the goldsmith,

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.

2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east,

Called him to his foot,

Gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings?

He gave them as the dust to his sword,

And as driven stubble to his bow.

3 He pursued them, and passed safely;

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

4 Who hath wrought and done it,

Calling the generations from the beginning?

I the Lord, the first,

And with the last; I am he.

5 The 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 So 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, that it should not be moved.

2 “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.

3 He chases them away and goes on safely,

though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.

4 Who 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.”

5 The lands beyond the sea watch in fear.

Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.

6 The idol makers encourage one another,

saying to each other, “Be strong!”

7 The 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.

2 “Who raised up one from the east?

Who in righteousness called him to His feet?

Who gave the nations before him,

And made him rule over kings?

Who gave them as the dust to his sword,

As driven stubble to his bow?

3 Who pursued them, and passed safely

By the way that he had not gone with his feet?

4 Who has performed and done it,

Calling the generations from the beginning?

‘I, the Lord, am the first;

And with the last I am He.’ ”

5 The coastlands saw it and feared,

The ends of the earth were afraid;

They drew near and came.

6 Everyone helped his neighbor,

And said to his brother,

“Be of good courage!”

7 So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith;

He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil,

Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”;

Then he fastened it with pegs,

That it might not totter.

2 “Who caused the one to come from the east?

Who gives him victories everywhere he goes?

The one who brought him gives nations over to him

and defeats kings.

He uses his sword, and kings become like dust.

He uses his bow, and they are blown away like chaff.

3 He chases them and is never hurt,

going places he has never been before.

4 Who caused this to happen?

Who has controlled history since the beginning?

I, the Lord, am the one. I was here at the beginning,

and I will be here when all things are finished.”

5 All you faraway places, look and be afraid;

all you places far away on the earth, shake with fear.

Come close and listen to me.

6 The workers help each other

and say to each other, “Be strong!”

7 The craftsman encourages the goldsmith,

and the workman who smooths the metal with a hammer encourages the one who shapes the metal.

He says, “This metal work is good.”

He nails the statue to a base so it can’t fall over.

2 Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow. 3 He pursueth them, and passeth on safely, even by a way that he had not gone with his feet. 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he. 5 The isles have seen, and fear; the ends of the earth tremble; they draw near, and come. 6 They help every one his neighbor; and every one saith to his brother, Be of good courage. 7 So the carpenter encourageth the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good; and he fasteneth it with nails, that it should not be moved.

2 Who raised up from the east him whom righteousness calleth to its foot? He gave the nations before him, and caused him to have dominion over kings; he gave them as dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow. 3 He pursued them, he passed on in safety, by a way he had never come with his feet. 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first; and with the last, I am HE. 5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth trembled: they drew near, and came. 6 They helped every one his neighbour, and each said to his brother, Take courage. 7 And the artizan encouraged the founder, he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth on the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good; and he fasteneth it with nails, that it be not moved.

2 “Who has raised up from the east 

someone to whom the Lord gives victory with every step he takes? 

Nations are handed over to him. 

He defeats kings. 

With his sword he turns them into dust. 

With his bow he turns them into straw blown by the wind. 

3 He chases them, marching by safely 

on a path his feet have never traveled before. 

4 Who has accomplished this? 

Who has determined the course of history from the beginning? 

I, the Lord, was there first, and I will be there to the end. 

I am the one!” 

5 The coastlands have seen him and are afraid. 

The ends of the earth tremble. 

They have come near and gathered together. 

6 People help their neighbors 

and say to their relatives, “Be brave!” 

7 Craftsmen encourage goldsmiths. 

Metalsmiths encourage blacksmiths who work at their anvils. 

They say that their soldering is good. 

And they fasten things with nails so they won’t move. 

2 Who has stirred him up from the east?

He calls righteousness to his feet.

The Lord hands nations over to him,

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, Yahweh, am the first,

and with the last —I am He.”

5 The islands see and are afraid,

the whole earth trembles.

They approach and arrive.

6 Each one helps the other,

and says to another, “Take courage!”

7 The craftsman encourages the metalworker;

the one who flattens with the hammer

supports 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.

2 Who has roused a victor from the east,

summoned him to his service?

He delivers up nations to him,

and tramples kings under foot;

he makes them like dust with his sword,

like driven stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them and passes on safely,

scarcely touching the path with his feet.

4 Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord, am first,

and will be with the last.

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid,

the ends of the earth tremble;

they have drawn near and come.

6 Each one helps the other,

saying to one another, “Take courage!”

7 The artisan encourages the goldsmith,

and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good”;

and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

2 Who has roused salvation from the east,

summoned him to his foot,

gives nations in his presence,

and subjugates kings?

He makes them like the dust with his sword,

like scattered stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them and passes on in peace;

he does not enter the path with his feet.

4 Who has accomplished and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I, Yahweh, am first;

and I am the one with the last.

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid;

the ends of the earth tremble.

They have drawn near,

and they have come.

6 Each one helps his neighbor;

he says to his brother, “Take courage!”

7 And the artisan encourages the goldsmith,

the one who makes smooth with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good!”

And they strengthen it with nails so it cannot be knocked over.

2 “Who has stirred up a king from the east?

Who has helped him win his battles?

I hand nations over to him.

I bring kings under his control.

He turns them into dust with his sword.

With his bow he turns them into straw blowing in the wind.

3 He hunts them down. Then he moves on unharmed.

He travels so fast that his feet

don’t seem to touch the ground.

4 Who has made that happen? Who has carried it out?

Who has created all of the people who have ever lived?

I, the Lord, have done it.

I was with the first of them.

And I will be with the last of them.”

5 The people on the islands have seen that king coming.

And it has made them afraid.

People tremble with fear from one end of the earth to the other.

They come and gather together.

6 They help each other.

They say to one another, “Be strong!”

7 One skilled worker makes a statue of a god.

Another covers it with gold.

The first worker says to the second,

“You have done a good job.”

Another worker smooths out the metal with a hammer.

Still another gives the statue its final shape.

The third worker says to the last one,

“You have done a good job.”

Then they nail the statue down so it won’t fall over.

2 “Who has aroused one from the east

Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet?

He delivers up nations before him

And subdues kings.

He makes them like dust with his sword,

As the wind-driven chaff with his bow.

3 “He pursues them, passing on in safety,

By a way he had not been traversing with his feet.

4 “Who has performed and accomplished it,

Calling forth the generations from the beginning?

‘I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.’ ”

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid;

The ends of the earth tremble;

They have drawn near and have come.

6 Each one helps his neighbor

And says to his brother, “Be strong!”

7 So the craftsman encourages the smelter,

And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,

Saying of the soldering, “It is good”;

And he fastens it with nails,

So that it will not totter.