Isaiah 41:21–29

The Futility of Idols

²¹Set forth your case, says the Lord;

bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.

²²Let them bring them, and ^ttell us

what is to happen.

Tell us the former things, what they are,

that we may consider them,

that we may know their outcome;

or declare to us the things to come.

^23tTell us what is to come hereafter,

that we may know that you are gods;

^udo good, or do harm,

that we may be dismayed and terrified.²

²⁴Behold, ^vyou are nothing,

and your work is less than nothing;

an abomination is he who chooses you.

^25wI stirred up one from the north, and he has come,

^xfrom the rising of the sun, ^yand he shall call upon my name;

he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,

as the potter treads clay.

^26zWho declared it from the beginning, that we might know,

and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”?

There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,

none who heard your words.

^27aI was the first to say³ to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”

and ^bI give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.

^28cBut when I look, there is no one;

among these there is no counselor

who, when I ask, gives an answer.

^29dBehold, they are all a delusion;

their works are nothing;

their metal images are empty wind.