Isaiah 41:23–26

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.

24 But you are less than nothing

and your works are utterly worthless;

whoever chooses you is detestable.

25 “I have stirred up one from the north, and he comes—

one from the rising sun who calls on my name.

He treads on rulers as if they were mortar,

as if he were a potter treading the clay.

26 Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know,

or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?

No one told of this,

no one foretold it,

no one heard any words from you.

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.

24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought:

An abomination is he that chooseth you.

25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come:

From the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name:

And he shall come upon princes as upon morter,

And as the potter treadeth clay.

26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know?

And beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous?

Yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth,

Yea, there is none that heareth your words.

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.

24 But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all.

Those who choose you pollute themselves.

25 “But I have stirred up a leader who will approach from the north.

From the east he will call on my name.

I will give him victory over kings and princes.

He will trample them as a potter treads on clay.

26 “Who told you from the beginning

that this would happen?

Who predicted this,

making you admit that he was right?

No one said a word!

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.

24 Indeed you are nothing,

And your work is nothing;

He who chooses you is an abomination.

25 “I have raised up one from the north,

And he shall come;

From the rising of the sun he shall call on My name;

And he shall come against princes as though mortar,

As the potter treads clay.

26 Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know?

And former times, that we may say, ‘He is righteous’?

Surely there is no one who shows,

Surely there is no one who declares,

Surely there is no one who hears your words.

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.

24 You gods are less than nothing;

you can’t do anything.

Those who worship you should be hated.

25 “I have brought someone to come out of the north

I have called by name a man from the east, and he knows me.

He walks on kings as if they were mud,

just as a potter walks on the clay.

26 Who told us about this before it happened?

Who told us ahead of time so we could say, ‘He was right’?

None of you told us anything;

none of you told us before it happened;

no one heard you tell about it.

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. 24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work is of nought; an abomination is he that chooseth you.

25 I have raised up one from the north, and he is come; from the rising of the sun one that calleth upon my name: and he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay. 26 Who hath declared it from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is right? yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

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. 24 Behold, ye are less than nothing, and your work is of nought; an abomination is he that chooseth you. … 25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come, —from the rising of the sun, he who will call upon my name; and he shall come upon princes as on mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay. 26 Who hath declared it from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, It is right? Indeed, there is none that declareth; no, none that sheweth; no, none that heareth your words.

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. 

24 You are nothing! 

You can’t do anything! 

Whoever chooses you is disgusting. 

25 “I have raised up someone from the north, and he has come. 

He will call on my name from the east. 

He will attack rulers as if they were mud, 

as if he were treading on clay like a potter. 

26 Who revealed this from the beginning so that we could know it? 

Who revealed this from the past so that we could say that he was right? 

No one revealed it. 

No one announced it. 

No one heard your words. 

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.

24 Look, you are nothing

and your work is worthless.

Anyone who chooses you is detestable.

25 “I have raised up one from the north, and he has come,

one from the east who invokes My name.

He will march over rulers as if they were mud,

like a potter who treads the clay.

26 Who told about this from the beginning,

so that we might know,

and from times past,

so that we might say: He is right?

No one announced it,

no one told it,

no one heard your words.

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.

24 You, indeed, are nothing,

and your work is nothing at all;

whoever chooses you is an abomination.

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

from the rising of the sun he was summoned by name.

He shall trample on rulers as on mortar,

as the potter treads clay.

26 Who declared it from the beginning, so that we might know,

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

There was no one who declared it, none who proclaimed,

none who heard your words.

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.

24 Look! you are nothing,

and your work is something worthless;

whoever chooses you is an abomination.

25 I stirred up one from the north,

and he has come from the rising of the sun.

He shall call on my name,

and he shall come on officials as on mortar,

and as the potter treads clay.

26 Who declared it from the beginning so that we might know,

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

Indeed, there was no one who declared it;

Indeed, there was no one who proclaimed it.

Indeed there was no one who heard your words.

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.

24 But you are less than nothing.

Your actions are completely worthless.

I hate it when people worship you.

25 “I have stirred up a king

who will come from the north.

He lives in the east.

He will bring honor to me.

He walks all over rulers as if they were mud.

He steps on them just as a potter stomps on clay.

26 Which one of you gods said those things

would happen before they did?

Who told us about them

so we could know them?

Who told us ahead of time?

Who told us so we could say,

‘You are right’?

None of you told us about them.

None of you told us ahead of time.

In fact, no one heard you say anything at all.

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.

24 Behold, you are of no account,

And your work amounts to nothing;

He who chooses you is an abomination.

25 “I have aroused one from the north, and he has come;

From the rising of the sun he will call on My name;

And he will come upon rulers as upon mortar,

Even as the potter treads clay.”

26 Who has declared this from the beginning, that we might know?

Or from former times, that we may say, “He is right!”?

Surely there was no one who declared,

Surely there was no one who proclaimed,

Surely there was no one who heard your words.