Isaiah 41:17–24

¹⁷The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none;

their tongues are parched with thirst.

I, Yahweh, will answer them; ^l

I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

¹⁸I will open rivers on the barren heights, ^m

and springs in the middle of the plains.

I will turn the desert into a pool of water

and dry land into springs of water. ⁿ

¹⁹I will plant cedars in the desert,

acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. ^o

I will put juniper trees in the desert,

elms and cypress trees together,

²⁰so that all may see and know,

consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this, ^p

the Holy One of Israel has created ^qit.

²¹“Submit your case,” says the Lord.

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

²²“Let them come and tell us

what will happen. ^r

Tell us the past events,

so that we may reflect on them

and know the outcome,

or tell us the future.

²³Tell us the coming events, ^s

then we will know that you are gods.

Indeed, do something good or bad,

then we will be in awe ^tand perceive.

²⁴Look, you are nothing ^u

and your work is worthless.

Anyone who chooses you is detestable.