Isaiah 41:1–13

God Helps Israel

41 Listen to me in silence, coastlands,

and let nations renew their strength.

Let them approach, then let them speak;

let us draw near together for judgment.

2 Who has roused salvation from the east,

summoneda him to his foot,

gives nations ⌊in his presence⌋,b

and subjugates kings?

He makesc them like the dust with his sword,

like scattered stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them and passes on in peace;

he does not enter the path with his feet.

4 Who has accomplished and done this,

calling the generations from the ⌊beginning⌋?d

I, Yahweh, am first;

and I am the one with the last.

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid;

the ends of the earth tremble.

They have drawn near,

and they have come.

6 Each one helpse his neighbor;

he says to his brother, “Take courage!”

7 And the artisan encourages the ⌊goldsmith⌋,f

the one who makes smooth with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good!”

And they strengthen it with nails so it cannot be knocked over.

8 Butg you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen,

you, the ⌊offspring⌋h of Abraham my ⌊friend⌋,i

9 you whom I grasped from the ends of the earth

and called from its remotest parts

and told, “You are my servant;

I have chosen you and I have not rejected you.”

10 You must not fear, for I am with you;

you must not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, indeed I will help you,

indeed I will take hold of you with the right hand of my salvation.

11 Look! All those who are angry with you shall be ashamed and humiliated;

⌊your opponents⌋j shall be like nothing and shall become lost.

12 You shall seek them,

butk you shall not find them;

⌊your opponents⌋l shall be like nothing,

and the men of your war like nothing.

13 For I, Yahweh your God, am grasping your right hand;

⌊it is I who say⌋m to you,

“You must not fear;

I myself, I will help you.