Isaiah 41:19–23

19 I will put in the desert

the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.

I will set junipers in the wasteland,

the fir and the cypress together,

20 so that people may see and know,

may consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 “Present your case,” says the Lord.

“Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.

22 “Tell us, you idols,

what is going to happen.

Tell us what the former things were,

so that we may consider them

and know their final outcome.

Or declare to us the things to come,

23 tell us what the future holds,

so we may know that you are gods.

Do something, whether good or bad,

so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together,

That the hand of the Lord hath done this,

And the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21 Produce your cause, saith the Lord;

Bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen:

Let them shew the former things, what they be,

That we may consider them, and know the latter end of them;

Or declare us things for to come.

23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter,

That we may know that ye are gods:

Yea, do good, or do evil,

That we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

19 I will plant trees in the barren desert—

cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.

20 I 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.

21 “Present the case for your idols,”

says the Lord.

“Let them show what they can do,”

says the King of Israel.

22 “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.

23 Yes, 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.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,

The myrtle and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine

And the box tree together,

20 That they may see and know,

And consider and understand together,

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 “Present your case,” says the Lord.

“Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.

22 “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;

Let them show the former things, what they were,

That we may consider them,

And know the latter end of them;

Or declare to us things to come.

23 Show the things that are to come hereafter,

That we may know that you are gods;

Yes, do good or do evil,

That we may be dismayed and see it together.

19 I will make trees grow in the desert—

cedars, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees.

I will put pine, fir, and cypress trees

growing together in the desert.

20 People will see these things and understand;

they will think carefully about these things and learn

that the Lord’s power did this,

that the Holy One of Israel made these things.”

21 The Lord says, “Present your case.”

The King of Jacob says, “Tell me your arguments.

22 Bring in your idols to tell us

what is going to happen.

Have them tell us what happened in the beginning.

Then we will think about these things,

and we will know how they will turn out.

Or tell us what will happen in the future.

23 Tell us what is coming next

so we will believe that you are gods.

Do something, whether it is good or bad,

and make us afraid.

19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together: 20 that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21 Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come. 23 Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

19 I will give in the wilderness the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and oleaster; I will set in the desert the cypress, pine, and box-tree together; 20 that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21 Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forward your arguments, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring them forward, and declare to us what shall happen: shew the former things, what they are, that we may give attention to them, and know the end of them; —or let us hear things to come: 23 declare the things that are to happen hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be astonished, and behold it together.

19 I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and wild olive trees in the desert. 

I will place cedar, fir, and cypress trees together in the wilderness. 

20 People will see and know. 

Together they will consider and understand 

that the Lord’s power has done this, 

that the Holy One of Israel has created it. 

21 “Present your case,” says the Lord. 

“Bring forward your best arguments,” says Jacob’s king. 

22 “Bring ⸤your idols⸥ so they can tell us what’s going to happen. 

Explain past events that your idols told you about 

so that we may consider them 

and know what their outcome will be. 

Tell us about future events. 

23 Tell us what’s going to happen 

so that we may know that you are gods. 

Yes, do something, good or evil, 

to intimidate us and make us afraid. 

19 I will plant cedars in the desert,

acacias, myrtles, and olive trees.

I will put juniper trees in the desert,

elms and cypress trees together,

20 so that all may see and know,

consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 “Submit your case,” says the Lord.

“Present your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.

22 “Let them come and tell us

what will happen.

Tell us the past events,

so that we may reflect on them

and know the outcome,

or tell us the future.

23 Tell us the coming events,

then we will know that you are gods.

Indeed, do something good or bad,

then we will be in awe and perceive.

19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;

I will set in the desert the cypress,

the plane and the pine together,

20 so that all may see and know,

all may consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 Set forth your case, says the Lord;

bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them and tell us

what is to happen.

Tell us the former things, what they were,

so that we may consider them

and that we may know their outcome

or declare to us the things to come.

23 Tell us what is to come hereafter,

that we may know that you are gods;

do good, or do harm,

that we may be afraid and terrified.

19 I will put the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive oil tree in the wilderness;

I will set the cypress, elm, and box tree together in the desert

20 so that they may see and know,

and take to heart and understand together

that the hand of Yahweh has done this,

and the holy one of Israel has created it.”

21 “Present your legal case,” says Yahweh.

“Bring your evidence,” says the king of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them,

and let them tell us what will happen.

Tell us what the former things are

so that we may take them to our heart

and know their outcome.

Declare to us the things to come;

23 tell us the things coming hereafter,

that we may know that you are gods.

Indeed, do good or do evil,

that we may be afraid and see together.

19 I will make trees grow in the desert.

I will plant cedar and acacia trees there.

I will plant myrtle and olive trees there.

I will make pine trees grow in the dry and empty desert.

I will plant fir and cypress trees there.

20 Then people will see and know

that my powerful hand has done it.

They will consider and understand

that I have created it.

I am the Holy One of Israel.”

21 The Lord says to the nations and their gods,

“State your case.”

Jacob’s King says to them,

“Prove your case to me.

22 Show me your facts. Tell me and my people

what is going to happen.

Tell us what happened in the past.

Then we can check it out

and see if it is really true.

Or announce to us the things that will take place.

23 Tell us what will happen in the days ahead.

Then we will know that you are gods.

Do something. It does not matter whether it is good or bad.

Then we will be terrified and filled with fear.

19 “I will put the cedar in the wilderness,

The acacia and the myrtle and the olive tree;

I will place the juniper in the desert

Together with the box tree and the cypress,

20 That they may see and recognize,

And consider and gain insight as well,

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 “Present your case,” the Lord says.

“Bring forward your strong arguments,”

The King of Jacob says.

22 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;

As for the former events, declare what they were,

That we may consider them and know their outcome.

Or announce to us what is coming;

23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward,

That we may know that you are gods;

Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.