Isaiah 41:21–29

The ’s Challenge to False Gods

²¹The Lord, the king of Israel, has this to say:

“You gods of the nations, present your case.

Bring the best arguments you have!

²²Come here and predict what will happen,

so that we will know it when it takes place.

Explain to the court the events of the past,

and tell us what they mean.

²³Tell us what the future holds—

then we will know that you are gods!

Do something good or bring some disaster;

fill us with fear and awe!

²⁴You and all you do are nothing;

those who worship you are disgusting!

²⁵“I have chosen a man who lives in the east;ⁿ

I will bring him to attack from the north.

He tramples on rulers as if they were mud,

like a potter trampling clay.

²⁶Which of you predicted that this would happen,

so that we could say that you were right?

None of you said a word about it;

no one heard you say a thing!

²⁷I, the Lord, was the first to tell Zion the news;

I sent a messenger to Jerusalem to say,

‘Your people are coming! They are coming home!’^o

²⁸When I looked among the gods,

none of them had a thing to say;

not one could answer the questions I asked.

²⁹All these gods are useless;

they can do nothing at all—

these idols are weak and powerless.”