Isaiah 42

1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not shout or cry out,

or raise his voice in the streets.

3 A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

4 he will not falter or be discouraged

till he establishes justice on earth.

In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

5 This is what God the Lord says—

the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,

who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,

who gives breath to its people,

and life to those who walk on it:

6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;

I will take hold of your hand.

I will keep you and will make you

to be a covenant for the people

and a light for the Gentiles,

7 to open eyes that are blind,

to free captives from prison

and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

8 “I am the Lord; that is my name!

I will not yield my glory to another

or my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have taken place,

and new things I declare;

before they spring into being

I announce them to you.”

10 Sing to the Lord a new song,

his praise from the ends of the earth,

you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,

you islands, and all who live in them.

11 Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;

let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.

Let the people of Sela sing for joy;

let them shout from the mountaintops.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord

and proclaim his praise in the islands.

13 The Lord will march out like a champion,

like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;

with a shout he will raise the battle cry

and will triumph over his enemies.

14 “For a long time I have kept silent,

I have been quiet and held myself back.

But now, like a woman in childbirth,

I cry out, I gasp and pant.

15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills

and dry up all their vegetation;

I will turn rivers into islands

and dry up the pools.

16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,

along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;

I will turn the darkness into light before them

and make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do;

I will not forsake them.

17 But those who trust in idols,

who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’

will be turned back in utter shame.

18 “Hear, you deaf;

look, you blind, and see!

19 Who is blind but my servant,

and deaf like the messenger I send?

Who is blind like the one in covenant with me,

blind like the servant of the Lord?

20 You have seen many things, but you pay no attention;

your ears are open, but you do not listen.”

21 It pleased the Lord

for the sake of his righteousness

to make his law great and glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted,

all of them trapped in pits

or hidden away in prisons.

They have become plunder,

with no one to rescue them;

they have been made loot,

with no one to say, “Send them back.”

23 Which of you will listen to this

or pay close attention in time to come?

24 Who handed Jacob over to become loot,

and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the Lord,

against whom we have sinned?

For they would not follow his ways;

they did not obey his law.

25 So he poured out on them his burning anger,

the violence of war.

It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand;

it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my Spirit upon him;

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

3 a bruised reed he will not break,

and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged

till he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his law.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

I will take you by the hand and keep you;

I will give you as a covenant for the people,

a light for the nations,

7 to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8 I am the Lord; that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to carved idols.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth

I tell you of them.”

10 Sing to the Lord a new song,

his praise from the end of the earth,

you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it,

the coastlands and their inhabitants.

11 Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice,

the villages that Kedar inhabits;

let the habitants of Sela sing for joy,

let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord,

and declare his praise in the coastlands.

13 The Lord goes out like a mighty man,

like a man of war he stirs up his zeal;

he cries out, he shouts aloud,

he shows himself mighty against his foes.

14 For a long time I have held my peace;

I have kept still and restrained myself;

now I will cry out like a woman in labor;

I will gasp and pant.

15 I will lay waste mountains and hills,

and dry up all their vegetation;

I will turn the rivers into islands,

and dry up the pools.

16 And I will lead the blind

in a way that they do not know,

in paths that they have not known

I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light,

the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I do,

and I do not forsake them.

17 They are turned back and utterly put to shame,

who trust in carved idols,

who say to metal images,

“You are our gods.”

18 Hear, you deaf,

and look, you blind, that you may see!

19 Who is blind but my servant,

or deaf as my messenger whom I send?

Who is blind as my dedicated one,

or blind as the servant of the Lord?

20 He sees many things, but does not observe them;

his ears are open, but he does not hear.

21 The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake,

to magnify his law and make it glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted;

they are all of them trapped in holes

and hidden in prisons;

they have become plunder with none to rescue,

spoil with none to say, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will give ear to this,

will attend and listen for the time to come?

24 Who gave up Jacob to the looter,

and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned,

in whose ways they would not walk,

and whose law they would not obey?

25 So he poured on him the heat of his anger

and the might of battle;

it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand;

it burned him up, but he did not take it to heart.

1 “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.

He is my chosen one, who pleases me.

I have put my Spirit upon him.

He will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not shout

or raise his voice in public.

3 He will not crush the weakest reed

or put out a flickering candle.

He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.

4 He will not falter or lose heart

until justice prevails throughout the earth.

Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”

5 God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.

He created the earth and everything in it.

He gives breath to everyone,

life to everyone who walks the earth.

And it is he who says,

6 “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.

I will take you by the hand and guard you,

and I will give you to my people, Israel,

as a symbol of my covenant with them.

And you will be a light to guide the nations.

7 You will open the eyes of the blind.

You will free the captives from prison,

releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.

8 “I am the Lord; that is my name!

I will not give my glory to anyone else,

nor share my praise with carved idols.

9 Everything I prophesied has come true,

and now I will prophesy again.

I will tell you the future before it happens.”

10 Sing a new song to the Lord!

Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!

Sing, all you who sail the seas,

all you who live in distant coastlands.

11 Join in the chorus, you desert towns;

let the villages of Kedar rejoice!

Let the people of Sela sing for joy;

shout praises from the mountaintops!

12 Let the whole world glorify the Lord;

let it sing his praise.

13 The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero;

he will come out like a warrior, full of fury.

He will shout his battle cry

and crush all his enemies.

14 He will say, “I have long been silent;

yes, I have restrained myself.

But now, like a woman in labor,

I will cry and groan and pant.

15 I will level the mountains and hills

and blight all their greenery.

I will turn the rivers into dry land

and will dry up all the pools.

16 I will lead blind Israel down a new path,

guiding them along an unfamiliar way.

I will brighten the darkness before them

and smooth out the road ahead of them.

Yes, I will indeed do these things;

I will not forsake them.

17 But those who trust in idols,

who say, ‘You are our gods,’

will be turned away in shame.

18 “Listen, you who are deaf!

Look and see, you blind!

19 Who is as blind as my own people, my servant?

Who is as deaf as my messenger?

Who is as blind as my chosen people,

the servant of the Lord?

20 You see and recognize what is right

but refuse to act on it.

You hear with your ears,

but you don’t really listen.”

21 Because he is righteous,

the Lord has exalted his glorious law.

22 But his own people have been robbed and plundered,

enslaved, imprisoned, and trapped.

They are fair game for anyone

and have no one to protect them,

no one to take them back home.

23 Who will hear these lessons from the past

and see the ruin that awaits you in the future?

24 Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt?

It was the Lord, against whom we sinned,

for the people would not walk in his path,

nor would they obey his law.

25 Therefore, he poured out his fury on them

and destroyed them in battle.

They were enveloped in flames,

but they still refused to understand.

They were consumed by fire,

but they did not learn their lesson.

1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,

My Elect One in whom My soul delights!

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,

Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.

3 A bruised reed He will not break,

And smoking flax He will not quench;

He will bring forth justice for truth.

4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,

Till He has established justice in the earth;

And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

5 Thus says God the Lord,

Who created the heavens and stretched them out,

Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,

Who gives breath to the people on it,

And spirit to those who walk on it:

6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,

And will hold Your hand;

I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the Gentiles,

7 To open blind eyes,

To bring out prisoners from the prison,

Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

8 I am the Lord, that is My name;

And My glory I will not give to another,

Nor My praise to carved images.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,

And new things I declare;

Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

10 Sing to the Lord a new song,

And His praise from the ends of the earth,

You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,

You coastlands and you inhabitants of them!

11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice,

The villages that Kedar inhabits.

Let the inhabitants of Sela sing,

Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord,

And declare His praise in the coastlands.

13 The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man;

He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war.

He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud;

He shall prevail against His enemies.

14 “I have held My peace a long time,

I have been still and restrained Myself.

Now I will cry like a woman in labor,

I will pant and gasp at once.

15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills,

And dry up all their vegetation;

I will make the rivers coastlands,

And I will dry up the pools.

16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;

I will lead them in paths they have not known.

I will make darkness light before them,

And crooked places straight.

These things I will do for them,

And not forsake them.

17 They shall be turned back,

They shall be greatly ashamed,

Who trust in carved images,

Who say to the molded images,

‘You are our gods.’

18 “Hear, you deaf;

And look, you blind, that you may see.

19 Who is blind but My servant,

Or deaf as My messenger whom I send?

Who is blind as he who is perfect,

And blind as the Lord’s servant?

20 Seeing many things, but you do not observe;

Opening the ears, but he does not hear.”

21 The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake;

He will exalt the law and make it honorable.

22 But this is a people robbed and plundered;

All of them are snared in holes,

And they are hidden in prison houses;

They are for prey, and no one delivers;

For plunder, and no one says, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will give ear to this?

Who will listen and hear for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers?

Was it not the Lord,

He against whom we have sinned?

For they would not walk in His ways,

Nor were they obedient to His law.

25 Therefore He has poured on him the fury of His anger

And the strength of battle;

It has set him on fire all around,

Yet he did not know;

And it burned him,

Yet he did not take it to heart.

1 “Here is my servant, the one I support.

He is the one I chose, and I am pleased with him.

I have put my Spirit upon him,

and he will bring justice to all nations.

2 He will not cry out or yell

or speak loudly in the streets.

3 He will not break a crushed blade of grass

or put out even a weak flame.

He will truly bring justice;

4 he will not lose hope or give up

until he brings justice to the world.

And people far away will trust his teachings.”

5 God, the Lord, said these things.

He created the skies and stretched them out.

He spread out the earth and everything on it.

He gives life to all people on earth,

to everyone who walks on the earth.

6 The Lord says, “I, the Lord, called you to do right,

and I will hold your hand

and protect you.

You will be the sign of my agreement with the people,

a light to shine for all people.

7 You will help the blind to see.

You will free those who are in prison,

and you will lead those who live in darkness out of their prison.

8 “I am the Lord. That is my name.

I will not give my glory to another;

I will not let idols take the praise that should be mine.

9 The things I said would happen have happened,

and now I tell you about new things.

Before those things happen,

I tell you about them.”

10 Sing a new song to the Lord;

sing his praise everywhere on the earth.

Praise him, you people who sail on the seas and you animals who live in them.

Praise him, you people living in faraway places.

11 The deserts and their cities should praise him.

The settlements of Kedar should praise him.

The people living in Sela should sing for joy;

they should shout from the mountaintops.

12 They should give glory to the Lord.

People in faraway lands should praise him.

13 The Lord will march out like a strong soldier;

he will be excited like a man ready to fight a war.

He will shout out the battle cry

and defeat his enemies.

14 The Lord says, “For a long time I have said nothing;

I have been quiet and held myself back.

But now I will cry out

and strain like a woman giving birth to a child.

15 I will destroy the hills and mountains

and dry up all their plants.

I will make the rivers become dry land

and dry up the pools of water.

16 Then I will lead the blind along a way they never knew;

I will guide them along paths they have not known.

I will make the darkness become light for them,

and the rough ground smooth.

These are the things I will do;

I will not leave my people.

17 But those who trust in idols,

who say to their statues,

‘You are our gods’

will be rejected in disgrace.

18 “You who are deaf, hear me.

You who are blind, look and see.

19 No one is more blind than my servant Israel

or more deaf than the messenger I send.

No one is more blind than the person I own

or more blind than the servant of the Lord.

20 Israel, you have seen much, but you have not obeyed.

You hear, but you refuse to listen.”

21 The Lord made his teachings wonderful,

because he is good.

22 These people have been defeated and robbed.

They are trapped in pits

or locked up in prison.

Like robbers, enemies have taken them away,

and there is no one to save them.

Enemies carried them off,

and no one said, “Bring them back.”

23 Will any of you listen to this?

Will you listen carefully in the future?

24 Who let the people of Jacob be carried off?

Who let robbers take Israel away?

The Lord allowed this to happen,

because we sinned against him.

We did not live the way he wanted us to live

and did not obey his teaching.

25 So he became very angry with us

and brought terrible wars against us.

It was as if the people of Israel had fire all around them,

but they didn’t know what was happening.

It was as if they were burning,

but they didn’t pay any attention.

1 Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.

5 Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house. 8 I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

10 Sing unto Jehovah a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory unto Jehovah, and declare his praise in the islands. 13 Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.

14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant together. 15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.

18 Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 19 Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I send? who is blind as he that is at peace with me, and blind as Jehovah’s servant? 20 Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not. 21 It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable. 22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

23 Who is there among you that will give ear to this? that will hearken and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law. 25 Therefore he poured upon him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

1 Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth! I will put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the nations. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment according to truth. 4 He shall not faint nor be in haste, till he have set justice in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

5 Thus saith •God, Jehovah, he that created the heavens and stretched them out, he that spread forth the earth and its productions, he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will take hold of thy hand; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nations, 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring forth the prisoner from the prison, them that sit in darkness out of the house of restraint. 8 I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. 9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth will I cause you to hear them. 10 Sing unto Jehovah a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles and their inhabitants. 11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains: 12 let them give glory unto Jehovah, and declare his praise in the islands.

13 Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man, he will stir up jealousy like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout; he will shew himself mighty against his enemies. 14 Long time have I holden my peace; I have been still, I have restrained myself: I will cry like a woman that travaileth; I will blow and pant at once. 15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not, in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be covered with shame, that confide in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

18 —Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 19 Who is blind, but my servant? and deaf, as my messenger whom I sent? Who is blind as he in whom I have trusted, and blind as Jehovah’s servant, 20 —seeing many things, and thou observest not? With opened ears, he heareth not. 21 Jehovah had delight in him for his righteousness’ sake: he hath magnified the law, and made it honourable. 22 But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and hidden in prison-houses; they are become a prey, and none delivereth, —a spoil, and none saith, Restore. 23 Who among you will give ear to this, who will hearken and hear what is to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not Jehovah, he against whom we have sinned? And they would not walk in his ways, neither did they hearken unto his law. 25 And he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he took it not to heart.

1 Here is my servant, whom I support. 

Here is my chosen one, with whom I am pleased. 

I have put my Spirit on him. 

He will bring justice to the nations. 

2 He will not cry out or raise ⸤his voice⸥. 

He will not make his voice heard in the streets. 

3 He will not break off a damaged cattail. 

He will not even put out a smoking wick. 

He will faithfully bring about justice. 

4 He will not be discouraged or crushed 

until he has set up justice on the earth. 

The coastlands will wait for his teachings. 

5 The Lord God created the heavens and stretched them out. 

He shaped the earth and all that comes from it. 

He gave life to the people who are on it 

and breath to those who walk on it. 

This is what the Lord God says: 

6 I, the Lord, have called you to do what is right. 

I will take hold of your hand. 

I will protect you. 

I will appoint you as my promiseto the people, 

as my light to the nations. 

7 You will give sight to the blind, 

bring prisoners out of prisons, 

and bring those who live in darkness 

out of dungeons. 

8 I am the Lord; that is my name. 

I will not give my glory to anyone else 

or the praise I deserve to idols. 

9 What I said in the past has come true. 

I will reveal new things before they happen. 

10 Sing a new song to the Lord. 

Sing his praise from the ends of the earth, 

you people who sail on the seas 

and all the creatures that live in them, 

you coastlands and all who live on them. 

11 Let those who live in the desert and its cities raise their voices. 

Let those who live in the settlements of Kedar praise him. 

Let those who live in Sela sing for joy. 

Let them shout from the tops of the mountains. 

12 Let them give glory to the Lord 

and announce his praise on the coastlands. 

13 The Lord marches out like a warrior. 

He prepares himself for battle like a soldier. 

He shouts, gives the battle cry, and overpowers his enemies. 

14 I have been silent for a long time. 

I kept quiet and held myself back. 

But like a woman in childbirth I will cry out. 

I will gasp and pant. 

15 I will lay waste to mountains and hills. 

I will dry up all their vegetation. 

I will turn rivers into islands. 

I will dry up ponds. 

16 I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads. 

I will lead them on unfamiliar paths. 

I will turn darkness into light in front of them. 

I will make rough places smooth. 

These are the things I will do for them, 

and I will never abandon them. 

17 Then those who trust idols 

and those who say to statues, 

“You are our gods” 

will be turned away and put to shame. 

18 Listen, you deaf people. 

Look, you blind people, so that you can see. 

19 Who is blind except my servant 

or deaf like the messenger I send? 

Who is blind like the one who has my trust 

or blind like the servant of the Lord? 

20 You have seen much, but you do not observe anything. 

Your ears are open, but you hear nothing. 

21 The Lord is pleased because he does what is right. 

He praises the greatness of his teachings and makes them glorious. 

22 But these people are robbed and looted. 

They are all trapped in pits and hidden in prisons. 

They have become prey with no one to rescue them. 

They have become loot with no one to say, “Give it back.” 

23 Who among you will listen to this? 

Is there anyone who will pay attention and listen in the future? 

24 Who gave Jacob away as loot 

and handed Israel over to robbers? 

Wasn’t it the Lord, against whom we have sinned? 

They didn’t want to live his way. 

They didn’t obey his teachings. 

25 So he poured out his burning anger and the horrors of war on them. 

It engulfed them in flames, but they did not understand. 

It burned them, but they did not take it to heart. 

1 “This is My Servant; I strengthen Him,

this is My Chosen One; I delight in Him.

I have put My Spirit on Him;

He will bring justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry out or shout

or make His voice heard in the streets.

3 He will not break a bruised reed,

and He will not put out a smoldering wick;

He will faithfully bring justice.

4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged

until He has established justice on earth.

The islands will wait for His instruction.”

5 This is what God, Yahweh, says—

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

and life to those who walk on it —

6 “I, Yahweh, have called You

for a righteous purpose,

and I will hold You by Your hand.

I will keep You and appoint You

to be a covenant for the people

and a light to the nations,

7 in order to open blind eyes,

to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,

and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.

8 I am Yahweh, that is My name;

I will not give My glory to another

or My praise to idols.

9 The past events have indeed happened.

Now I declare new events;

I announce them to you before they occur.”

10 Sing a new song to the Lord;

sing His praise from the ends of the earth,

you who go down to the sea with all that fills it,

you islands with your inhabitants.

11 Let the desert and its cities shout,

the settlements where Kedar dwells cry aloud.

Let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy;

let them cry out from the mountaintops.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord

and declare His praise in the islands.

13 The Lord advances like a warrior;

He stirs up His zeal like a soldier.

He shouts, He roars aloud,

He prevails over His enemies.

14 “I have kept silent from ages past;

I have been quiet and restrained Myself.

But now, I will groan like a woman in labor,

gasping breathlessly.

15 I will lay waste mountains and hills

and dry up all their vegetation.

I will turn rivers into islands

and dry up marshes.

16 I will lead the blind by a way they did not know;

I will guide them on paths they have not known.

I will turn darkness to light in front of them

and rough places into level ground.

This is what I will do for them,

and I will not forsake them.

17 They will be turned back and utterly ashamed—

those who trust in idols

and say to metal-plated images:

You are our gods!

18 “Listen, you deaf!

Look, you blind, so that you may see.

19 Who is blind but My servant,

or deaf like My messenger I am sending?

Who is blind like My dedicated one,

or blind like the servant of the Lord?

20 Though seeing many things, you do not obey.

Though his ears are open, he does not listen.”

21 The Lord was pleased, because of His righteousness,

to magnify His instruction and make it glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted,

all of them trapped in holes

or imprisoned in dungeons.

They have become plunder

with no one to rescue them

and loot, with no one saying, “Give it back!”

23 Who among you will pay attention to this?

Let him listen and obey in the future.

24 Who gave Jacob to the robber,

and Israel to the plunderers?

Was it not the Lord?

Have we not sinned against Him?

They were not willing to walk in His ways,

and they would not listen to His instruction.

25 So He poured out on Jacob His furious anger

and the power of war.

It surrounded him with fire, but he did not know it;

it burned him, but he paid no attention.

1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him;

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry out or lift up his voice

or make it heard in the street;

3 a bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not grow faint or be crushed

until he has established justice in the earth,

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations,

7 to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8 I am the Lord; that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to idols.

9 See, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth,

I tell you of them.

10 Sing to the Lord a new song,

his praise from the end of the earth!

Let the sea roar and all that fills it,

the coastlands and their inhabitants.

11 Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice,

the villages that Kedar inhabits;

let the inhabitants of Sela shout for joy;

let them shout from the tops of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord

and declare his praise in the coastlands.

13 The Lord goes forth like a soldier;

like a warrior he stirs up his fury;

he cries out; he shouts aloud;

he shows himself mighty against his foes.

14 For a long time I have held my peace;

I have kept still and restrained myself;

now I will cry out like a woman in labor;

I will gasp and pant.

15 I will lay waste mountains and hills

and dry up all their herbage;

I will turn the rivers into islands

and dry up the pools.

16 I will lead the blind

by a road they do not know;

by paths they have not known

I will guide them.

I will turn the darkness before them into light,

the rough places into level ground.

These are the things I will do,

and I will not forsake them.

17 They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame—

those who trust in carved images,

who say to cast images,

“You are our gods.”

18 Listen, you who are deaf,

and you who are blind, look up and see!

19 Who is blind but my servant

or deaf like my messenger whom I send?

Who is blind like my dedicated one

or blind like the servant of the Lord?

20 He sees many things, but he does not observe them;

his ears are open, but he does not hear.

21 The Lord was pleased, for the sake of his righteousness,

to magnify his teaching and make it glorious.

22 But this is a people robbed and plundered;

all of them are trapped in holes

and hidden in prisons;

they have become a prey with no one to rescue,

a spoil with no one to say, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will give heed to this;

who will attend and listen for the time to come?

24 Who gave up Jacob to the spoiler

and Israel to the robbers?

Was it not the Lord, against whom they sinned,

in whose ways they would not walk,

and whose law they would not obey?

25 So he poured upon him the heat of his anger

and the fury of war;

it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand;

it burned him, but he did not take it to heart.

1 Look! here is my servant; I hold him,

my chosen one, in whom my soul delights.

I have put my spirit on him;

he will bring justice forth to the nations.

2 He will not cry out and lift up

and make his voice heard in the street.

3 He will not break a broken reed,

and he will not extinguish a dim wick.

He will bring justice forth in faithfulness.

4 He will not grow faint,

and he will not be broken

until he has established justice in the earth.

And the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5 Thus says the God, Yahweh,

who created the heavens

and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and its offspring,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it.

6 “I am Yahweh; I have called you in righteousness,

and I have grasped your hand and watched over you;

and I have given you as a covenant of the people,

as a light of the nations,

7 to open the blind eyes,

to bring the prisoner out from the dungeon,

those who sit in darkness from the house of imprisonment.

8 I am Yahweh; that is my name,

and I do not give my glory to another,

nor my praise to the idols.

9 Look! the former things have come,

and I declare new things.

I announce them to you before they sprout up.”

10 Sing a new song to Yahweh;

praise him from the end of the earth,

you who go down to the sea and that which fills it,

the coastlands and their inhabitants.

11 Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice,

the villages that Kedar inhabits.

Let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy;

let them shout loudly from the top of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to Yahweh

and declare his praise in the coastlands.

13 Yahweh goes forth like a mighty warrior;

he stirs up zeal like a man of war.

He raises the war cry, indeed he raises the battle shout;

he prevails against his foes.

14 I have been silent for a long time;

I have kept silent;

I have restrained myself like one giving birth;

I will moan, pant, and gasp together.

15 I will cause mountains and hills to dry up,

and I will cause all their herbage to wither;

and I will make rivers like islands,

and I will cause pools to dry up.

16 And I will lead the blind by a road they do not know;

I will cause them to tread on paths they have not known.

I will make darkness in their presence into light

and rough places into level ground.

These are the things I will do,

and I will not forsake them.

17 They shall turn back;

they shall be greatly ashamed,

those who trust in an image,

who say to a cast image, “You are our gods.”

18 Deaf people, listen!

And blind people, look to see!

19 Who is blind but my servant

or deaf like my messenger whom I sent?

Who is blind like the one who is repaid

or blind like the servant of Yahweh?

20 You see many things, but you do not observe.

His ears are open, but he does not hear.

21 Yahweh was willing for the sake of his righteousness;

he showed his teaching to be great and proved it to be glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and looted; all of them are trapped in holes,

and they are kept hidden in houses of imprisonment.

They have become like plunder, and there is no one who saves;

like booty, and there is no one who says, “Restore!”

23 Who among you will heed this,

will listen attentively and listen, for the time to come?

24 Who gave Jacob to a plunderer

and Israel to those who plunder?

Was it not Yahweh, against whom we have sinned?

And they were not willing to walk in his ways,

and they would not obey his law.

25 So he poured the wrath of his anger upon him

and the strength of war.

And it set him afire all around, but he did not understand;

and it burned him, but he did not take it to heart.

1 “Here is my servant. I take good care of him.

I have chosen him. I am very pleased with him.

I will put my Spirit on him.

He will make everything right among the nations.

2 He will not shout or cry out.

He will not raise his voice in the streets.

3 He will not break a bent twig.

He will not put out a dimly burning flame.

He will be faithful and make everything right.

4 He will not grow weak or lose hope.

He will not give up until he makes everything right on the earth.

The islands will put their hope in his law.”

5 God created the heavens and spread them out.

The Lord made the earth and everything that grows on it.

He gives breath to its people.

He gives life to those who walk on it.

He says to his servant,

6 “I, the Lord, have chosen you to do what is right.

I will take hold of your hand.

I will keep you safe.

You will put my covenant with the people of Israel into effect.

And you will be a light for the other nations.

7 You will open eyes that can’t see.

You will set prisoners free.

Those who sit in darkness will come out of their cells.

8 “I am the Lord. That is my name!

I will not let any other god share my glory.

I will not let statues of gods share my praise.

9 What I said would happen has taken place.

Now I announce new things to you.

Before they even begin to happen,

I announce them to you.”

10 Sing a new song to the Lord.

Sing praise to him from one end of the earth to the other.

Sing, you who sail out on the ocean.

Sing, all of you creatures in it.

Sing, you islands.

Sing, all of you who live there.

11 Let the desert and its towns raise their voices.

Let those who live in the settlements of Kedar be glad.

Let the people of Sela sing with joy.

Let them shout from the tops of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord.

Let them praise him in the islands.

13 The Lord will march out like a mighty warrior.

He will stir up his anger like a soldier getting ready to fight.

He will shout the battle cry.

And he will win the battle over his enemies.

14 The Lord says, “For a long time I have kept silent.

I have been calm and quiet.

But now, like a woman having a baby,

I cry out. I am struggling to breathe.

15 I will completely destroy the mountains and hills.

I will dry up everything that grows there.

I will turn rivers into dry land.

I will dry up the pools.

16 Israel is blind.

So I will lead them along paths

they had not known before.

I will guide them on roads they are not familiar with.

I will turn the darkness into light as they travel.

I will make the rough places smooth.

Those are the things I will do.

I will not desert my people.

17 Some people trust in statues of gods.

They say to them, ‘You are our gods.’

But they will be dishonored.

They will be put to shame.

18 “Israel, listen to me! You can hear,

but you do not understand.

Look to me! You can see,

but you do not know what you are seeing.

19 The people of Israel serve me. But who is more blind than they are?

Who is more deaf than the messengers I send?

Who is more blind than those who have committed themselves to be faithful to me?

Who is more blind than my servants?

20 Israel, you have seen many things.

But you have not paid any attention to me.

Your ears are open.

But you do not hear anything I say.”

21 The Lord wanted his people to see

how great and glorious his law is.

He wanted to show them

that he always does what is right.

22 Enemies have carried off everything they own.

All of my people are trapped in pits

or hidden away in prisons.

They themselves have become like stolen goods.

No one can save them.

They have been carried off.

And there is no one who will say, “Send them back.”

23 Family of Jacob, who among you will listen to what I’m saying?

People of Israel, which one of you will pay close attention in days to come?

24 Who allowed you to be carried off like stolen goods?

Who handed you over to robbers?

The Lord did it!

We have sinned against him.

Israel, you wouldn’t follow his ways.

You didn’t obey his law.

25 So he poured his burning anger out on you.

He had many of you killed off in battle.

You were surrounded by flames.

But you didn’t realize what was happening.

Many of you were destroyed.

But you didn’t learn anything from it.

1 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 “He will not cry out or raise His voice,

Nor make His voice heard in the street.

3 “A bruised reed He will not break

And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;

He will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 “He will not be disheartened or crushed

Until He has established justice in the earth;

And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

5 Thus says God the Lord,

Who created the heavens and stretched them out,

Who spread out the earth and its offspring,

Who gives breath to the people on it

And spirit to those who walk in it,

6 “I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness,

I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,

And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the nations,

7 To open blind eyes,

To bring out prisoners from the dungeon

And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

8 “I am the Lord, that is My name;

I will not give My glory to another,

Nor My praise to graven images.

9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass,

Now I declare new things;

Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

10 Sing to the Lord a new song,

Sing His praise from the end of the earth!

You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.

You islands, and those who dwell on them.

11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,

The settlements where Kedar inhabits.

Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud,

Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

12 Let them give glory to the Lord

And declare His praise in the coastlands.

13 The Lord will go forth like a warrior,

He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.

He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.

He will prevail against His enemies.

14 “I have kept silent for a long time,

I have kept still and restrained Myself.

Now like a woman in labor I will groan,

I will both gasp and pant.

15 “I will lay waste the mountains and hills

And wither all their vegetation;

I will make the rivers into coastlands

And dry up the ponds.

16 “I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,

In paths they do not know I will guide them.

I will make darkness into light before them

And rugged places into plains.

These are the things I will do,

And I will not leave them undone.”

17 They will be turned back and be utterly put to shame,

Who trust in idols,

Who say to molten images,

“You are our gods.”

18 Hear, you deaf!

And look, you blind, that you may see.

19 Who is blind but My servant,

Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send?

Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me,

Or so blind as the servant of the Lord?

20 You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;

Your ears are open, but none hears.

21 The Lord was pleased for His righteousness’ sake

To make the law great and glorious.

22 But this is a people plundered and despoiled;

All of them are trapped in caves,

Or are hidden away in prisons;

They have become a prey with none to deliver them,

And a spoil, with none to say, “Give them back!”

23 Who among you will give ear to this?

Who will give heed and listen hereafter?

24 Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers?

Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned,

And in whose ways they were not willing to walk,

And whose law they did not obey?

25 So He poured out on him the heat of His anger

And the fierceness of battle;

And it set him aflame all around,

Yet he did not recognize it;

And it burned him, but he paid no attention.