1 “Be silent before me, you islands!

Let the nations renew their strength!

Let them come forward and speak;

let us meet together at the place of judgment.

2 “Who has stirred up one from the east,

calling him in righteousness to his service?

He hands nations over to him

and subdues kings before him.

He turns them to dust with his sword,

to windblown chaff with his bow.

3 He pursues them and moves on unscathed,

by a path his feet have not traveled before.

4 Who has done this and carried it through,

calling forth the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord—with the first of them

and with the last—I am he.”

5 The islands have seen it and fear;

the ends of the earth tremble.

They approach and come forward;

6 they help each other

and say to their companions, “Be strong!”

7 The metalworker encourages the goldsmith,

and the one who smooths with the hammer

spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.

One says of the welding, “It is good.”

The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.

8 “But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

you descendants of Abraham my friend,

9 I took you from the ends of the earth,

from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 “All who rage against you

will surely be ashamed and disgraced;

those who oppose you

will be as nothing and perish.

12 Though you search for your enemies,

you will not find them.

Those who wage war against you

will be as nothing at all.

13 For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

14 Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,

little Israel, do not fear,

for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

15 “See, I will make you into a threshing sledge,

new and sharp, with many teeth.

You will thresh the mountains and crush them,

and reduce the hills to chaff.

16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,

and a gale will blow them away.

But you will rejoice in the Lord

and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 “The poor and needy search for water,

but there is none;

their tongues are parched with thirst.

But I the Lord will answer them;

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

18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,

and springs within the valleys.

I will turn the desert into pools of water,

and the parched ground into springs.

19 I will put in the desert

the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive.

I will set junipers in the wasteland,

the fir and the cypress together,

20 so that people may see and know,

may consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 “Present your case,” says the Lord.

“Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.

22 “Tell us, you idols,

what is going to happen.

Tell us what the former things were,

so that we may consider them

and know their final outcome.

Or declare to us the things to come,

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.

27 I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’

I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.

28 I look but there is no one—

no one among the gods to give counsel,

no one to give answer when I ask them.

29 See, they are all false!

Their deeds amount to nothing;

their images are but wind and confusion.

1 Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;

let the peoples renew their strength;

let them approach, then let them speak;

let us together draw near for judgment.

2 Who stirred up one from the east

whom victory meets at every step?

He gives up nations before him,

so that he tramples kings underfoot;

he makes them like dust with his sword,

like driven stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them and passes on safely,

by paths his feet have not trod.

4 Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord, the first,

and with the last; I am he.

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid;

the ends of the earth tremble;

they have drawn near and come.

6 Everyone helps his neighbor

and says to his brother, “Be strong!”

7 The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith,

and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good”;

and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

8 But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,

and called from its farthest corners,

saying to you, “You are my servant,

I have chosen you and not cast you off”;

10 fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 Behold, all who are incensed against you

shall be put to shame and confounded;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

12 You shall seek those who contend with you,

but you shall not find them;

those who war against you

shall be as nothing at all.

13 For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Fear not,

I am the one who helps you.”

14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,

you men of Israel!

I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;

your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15 Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,

new, sharp, and having teeth;

you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,

and you shall make the hills like chaff;

16 you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,

and the tempest shall scatter them.

And you shall rejoice in the Lord;

in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

17 When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them;

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers on the bare heights,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.

19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.

I will set in the desert the cypress,

the plane and the pine together,

20 that they may see and know,

may consider and understand together,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 Set forth your case, says the Lord;

bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them, and tell us

what is to happen.

Tell us the former things, what they are,

that we may consider them,

that we may know their outcome;

or declare to us the things to come.

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 dismayed and terrified.

24 Behold, you are nothing,

and your work is less than nothing;

an abomination is he who chooses you.

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

from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name;

he shall trample on rulers as on mortar,

as the potter treads clay.

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

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

There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed,

none who heard your words.

27 I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!”

and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news.

28 But when I look, there is no one;

among these there is no counselor

who, when I ask, gives an answer.

29 Behold, they are all a delusion;

their works are nothing;

their metal images are empty wind.

1 Keep silence before me, O islands;

And let the people renew their strength:

Let them come near; then let them speak:

Let us come near together to judgment.

2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east,

Called him to his foot,

Gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings?

He gave them as the dust to his sword,

And as driven stubble to his bow.

3 He pursued them, and passed safely;

Even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

4 Who hath wrought and done it,

Calling the generations from the beginning?

I the Lord, the first,

And with the last; I am he.

5 The isles saw it, and feared;

The ends of the earth were afraid,

Drew near, and came.

6 They helped every one his neighbour;

And every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith,

And he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil,

Saying, It is ready for the sodering:

And he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

8 But thou, Israel, art my servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

The seed of Abraham my friend.

9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called thee from the chief men thereof,

And said unto thee, Thou art my servant;

I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee:

Be not dismayed; for I am thy God:

I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;

Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded:

They shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee:

They that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand,

Saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel;

I will help thee, saith the Lord,

And thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth:

Thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small,

And shalt make the hills as chaff.

16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away,

And the whirlwind shall scatter them:

And thou shalt rejoice in the Lord,

And shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none,

And their tongue faileth for thirst,

I the Lord will hear them,

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers in high places,

And fountains in the midst of the valleys:

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

And the dry land springs of water.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together,

That the hand of the Lord hath done this,

And the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21 Produce your cause, saith the Lord;

Bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen:

Let them shew the former things, what they be,

That we may consider them, and know the latter end of them;

Or declare us things for to come.

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.

27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them:

And I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

28 For I beheld, and there was no man;

Even among them, and there was no counseller,

That, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing:

Their molten images are wind and confusion.

1 “Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea.

Bring your strongest arguments.

Come now and speak.

The court is ready for your case.

2 “Who has stirred up this king from the east,

rightly calling him to God’s service?

Who gives this man victory over many nations

and permits him to trample their kings underfoot?

With his sword, he reduces armies to dust.

With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.

3 He chases them away and goes on safely,

though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.

4 Who has done such mighty deeds,

summoning each new generation from the beginning of time?

It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last.

I alone am he.”

5 The lands beyond the sea watch in fear.

Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.

6 The idol makers encourage one another,

saying to each other, “Be strong!”

7 The carver encourages the goldsmith,

and the molder helps at the anvil.

“Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.”

Carefully they join the parts together,

then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.

8 “But as for you, Israel my servant,

Jacob my chosen one,

descended from Abraham my friend,

9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth,

saying, ‘You are my servant.’

For I have chosen you

and will not throw you away.

10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

11 “See, all your angry enemies lie there,

confused and humiliated.

Anyone who opposes you will die

and come to nothing.

12 You will look in vain

for those who tried to conquer you.

Those who attack you

will come to nothing.

13 For I hold you by your right hand—

I, the Lord your God.

And I say to you,

‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

14 Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob,

don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you.

I am the Lord, your Redeemer.

I am the Holy One of Israel.’

15 You will be a new threshing instrument

with many sharp teeth.

You will tear your enemies apart,

making chaff of mountains.

16 You will toss them into the air,

and the wind will blow them all away;

a whirlwind will scatter them.

Then you will rejoice in the Lord.

You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,

and their tongues are parched from thirst,

then I, the Lord, will answer them.

I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.

18 I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.

I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.

I will fill the desert with pools of water.

Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.

19 I will plant trees in the barren desert—

cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.

20 I am doing this so all who see this miracle

will understand what it means—

that it is the Lord who has done this,

the Holy One of Israel who created it.

21 “Present the case for your idols,”

says the Lord.

“Let them show what they can do,”

says the King of Israel.

22 “Let them try to tell us what happened long ago

so that we may consider the evidence.

Or let them tell us what the future holds,

so we can know what’s going to happen.

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!

27 I was the first to tell Zion,

‘Look! Help is on the way!’

I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news.

28 Not one of your idols told you this.

Not one gave any answer when I asked.

29 See, they are all foolish, worthless things.

All your idols are as empty as the wind.

1 “Keep silence before Me, O coastlands,

And let the people renew their strength!

Let them come near, then let them speak;

Let us come near together for judgment.

2 “Who raised up one from the east?

Who in righteousness called him to His feet?

Who gave the nations before him,

And made him rule over kings?

Who gave them as the dust to his sword,

As driven stubble to his bow?

3 Who pursued them, and passed safely

By the way that he had not gone with his feet?

4 Who has performed and done it,

Calling the generations from the beginning?

‘I, the Lord, am the first;

And with the last I am He.’ ”

5 The coastlands saw it and feared,

The ends of the earth were afraid;

They drew near and came.

6 Everyone helped his neighbor,

And said to his brother,

“Be of good courage!”

7 So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith;

He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil,

Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”;

Then he fastened it with pegs,

That it might not totter.

8 “But you, Israel, are My servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

The descendants of Abraham My friend.

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its farthest regions,

And said to you,

‘You are My servant,

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

11 “Behold, all those who were incensed against you

Shall be ashamed and disgraced;

They shall be as nothing,

And those who strive with you shall perish.

12 You shall seek them and not find them—

Those who contended with you.

Those who war against you

Shall be as nothing,

As a nonexistent thing.

13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,

Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’

14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob,

You men of Israel!

I will help you,” says the Lord

And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

15 “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth;

You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small,

And make the hills like chaff.

16 You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away,

And the whirlwind shall scatter them;

You shall rejoice in the Lord,

And glory in the Holy One of Israel.

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

Their tongues fail for thirst.

I, the Lord, will hear them;

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

18 I will open rivers in desolate heights,

And fountains in the midst of the valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

And the dry land springs of water.

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,

The myrtle and the oil tree;

I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine

And the box tree together,

20 That they may see and know,

And consider and understand together,

That the hand of the Lord has done this,

And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 “Present your case,” says the Lord.

“Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.

22 “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;

Let them show the former things, what they were,

That we may consider them,

And know the latter end of them;

Or declare to us things to come.

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.

27 The first time I said to Zion,

‘Look, there they are!’

And I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings.

28 For I looked, and there was no man;

I looked among them, but there was no counselor,

Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

29 Indeed they are all worthless;

Their works are nothing;

Their molded images are wind and confusion.

1 The Lord says, “Faraway countries, listen to me.

Let the nations become strong.

Come to me and speak;

we will meet together to decide who is right.

2 “Who caused the one to come from the east?

Who gives him victories everywhere he goes?

The one who brought him gives nations over to him

and defeats kings.

He uses his sword, and kings become like dust.

He uses his bow, and they are blown away like chaff.

3 He chases them and is never hurt,

going places he has never been before.

4 Who caused this to happen?

Who has controlled history since the beginning?

I, the Lord, am the one. I was here at the beginning,

and I will be here when all things are finished.”

5 All you faraway places, look and be afraid;

all you places far away on the earth, shake with fear.

Come close and listen to me.

6 The workers help each other

and say to each other, “Be strong!”

7 The craftsman encourages the goldsmith,

and the workman who smooths the metal with a hammer encourages the one who shapes the metal.

He says, “This metal work is good.”

He nails the statue to a base so it can’t fall over.

8 The Lord says, “People of Israel, you are my servants.

People of Jacob, I chose you.

You are from the family of my friend Abraham.

9 I took you from places far away on the earth

and called you from a faraway country.

I said, ‘You are my servants.’

I have chosen you and have not turned against you.

10 So don’t worry, because I am with you.

Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.

I will make you strong and will help you;

I will support you with my right hand that saves you.

11 “All those people who are angry with you

will be ashamed and disgraced.

Those who are against you

will disappear and be lost.

12 You will look for your enemies,

but you will not find them.

Those who fought against you

will vanish completely.

13 I am the Lord your God,

who holds your right hand,

and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid.

I will help you.’

14 You few people of Israel who are left,

do not be afraid even though you are weak as a worm.

I myself will help you,” says the Lord.

“The one who saves you is the Holy One of Israel.

15 Look, I have made you like a new threshing board

with many sharp teeth.

So you will walk on mountains and crush them;

you will make the hills like chaff.

16 You will throw them into the air, and the wind will carry them away;

a windstorm will scatter them.

Then you will be happy in the Lord;

you will be proud of the Holy One of Israel.

17 “The poor and needy people look for water,

but they can’t find any.

Their tongues are dry with thirst.

But I, the Lord, will answer their prayers;

I, the God of Israel, will not leave them to die.

18 I will make rivers flow on the dry hills

and springs flow through the valleys.

I will change the desert into a lake of water

and the dry land into fountains of water.

19 I will make trees grow in the desert—

cedars, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees.

I will put pine, fir, and cypress trees

growing together in the desert.

20 People will see these things and understand;

they will think carefully about these things and learn

that the Lord’s power did this,

that the Holy One of Israel made these things.”

21 The Lord says, “Present your case.”

The King of Jacob says, “Tell me your arguments.

22 Bring in your idols to tell us

what is going to happen.

Have them tell us what happened in the beginning.

Then we will think about these things,

and we will know how they will turn out.

Or tell us what will happen in the future.

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.

27 I, the Lord, was the first one to tell Jerusalem that the people were coming home.

I sent a messenger to Jerusalem with the good news.

28 I look at the idols, but there is not one that can answer.

None of them can give advice;

none of them can answer my questions.

29 Look, all these idols are false.

They cannot do anything;

they are worth nothing.

1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment. 2 Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow. 3 He pursueth them, and passeth on safely, even by a way that he had not gone with his feet. 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he. 5 The isles have seen, and fear; the ends of the earth tremble; they draw near, and come. 6 They help every one his neighbor; and every one saith to his brother, Be of good courage. 7 So the carpenter encourageth the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good; and he fasteneth it with nails, that it should not be moved.

8 But thou, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend, 9 thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from the corners thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away; 10 fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that are incensed against thee shall be put to shame and confounded: they that strive with thee shall be as nothing, and shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. 15 Behold, I have made thee to be a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. 16 Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17 The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together: 20 that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21 Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come. 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. 27 I am the first that saith unto Zion, Behold, behold them; and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. 28 And when I look, there is no man: even among them there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word. 29 Behold, all of them, their works are vanity and nought; their molten images are wind and confusion.

1 Keep silence before me, islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us draw near together to judgment. 2 Who raised up from the east him whom righteousness calleth to its foot? He gave the nations before him, and caused him to have dominion over kings; he gave them as dust to his sword, as driven stubble to his bow. 3 He pursued them, he passed on in safety, by a way he had never come with his feet. 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first; and with the last, I am HE. 5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth trembled: they drew near, and came. 6 They helped every one his neighbour, and each said to his brother, Take courage. 7 And the artizan encouraged the founder, he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth on the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good; and he fasteneth it with nails, that it be not moved. 8 But thou, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, my friend 9 —thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from the extremities thereof, and to whom I said, Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee and not rejected thee,

10 —Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Lo, all that are incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded; they that strive with thee shall be as nothing, and shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them—them that contend with thee; they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I, Jehovah, thy God, hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 Behold, I have made of thee a new sharp threshing instrument having double teeth: thou shalt thresh and beat small the mountains, and shalt make the hills as chaff; 16 thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. 17 The afflicted and the needy seek water, and there is none; their tongue faileth for thirst: I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness into a pool of water, and the dry land into water-springs. 19 I will give in the wilderness the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and oleaster; I will set in the desert the cypress, pine, and box-tree together; 20 that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21 Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forward your arguments, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring them forward, and declare to us what shall happen: shew the former things, what they are, that we may give attention to them, and know the end of them; —or let us hear things to come: 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. 27 The first, I said to Zion, Behold, behold them! and to Jerusalem, I will give one that bringeth glad tidings. 28 And I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, —and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 29 Behold, they are all vanity, their works are nought, their molten images are wind and emptiness.

1 “Be silent and listen to me, you coastlands. 

Let the people gain new strength. 

Let them come near and speak. 

Let us come together for judgment. 

2 “Who has raised up from the east 

someone to whom the Lord gives victory with every step he takes? 

Nations are handed over to him. 

He defeats kings. 

With his sword he turns them into dust. 

With his bow he turns them into straw blown by the wind. 

3 He chases them, marching by safely 

on a path his feet have never traveled before. 

4 Who has accomplished this? 

Who has determined the course of history from the beginning? 

I, the Lord, was there first, and I will be there to the end. 

I am the one!” 

5 The coastlands have seen him and are afraid. 

The ends of the earth tremble. 

They have come near and gathered together. 

6 People help their neighbors 

and say to their relatives, “Be brave!” 

7 Craftsmen encourage goldsmiths. 

Metalsmiths encourage blacksmiths who work at their anvils. 

They say that their soldering is good. 

And they fasten things with nails so they won’t move. 

8 “But you are my servant Israel, 

Jacob, whom I have chosen, 

the descendant of Abraham, my dear friend. 

9 I have taken you from the ends of the earth 

and called you from its most distant places. 

I said to you, ‘You are my servant. 

I’ve chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.’ 

10 Don’t be afraid, because I am with you. 

Don’t be intimidated; I am your God. 

I will strengthen you. 

I will help you. 

I will support you with my victorious right hand. 

11 “Everyone who is angry with you 

will be ashamed and disgraced. 

Those who oppose you 

will be reduced to nothing and disappear. 

12 You will search for your enemies, 

but you will not find them. 

Those who are at war with you 

will be reduced to nothing and no longer exist. 

13 I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand 

and say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid; I will help you.’ 

14 Don’t be afraid, Jacob, you worm. 

You people of Israel, I will help you,” 

declares the Lord, your Defender, the Holy One of Israel. 

15 “I am going to make you into a new threshingsledge 

with sharp, double-edged teeth. 

You will thresh the mountains and crush them to dust. 

You will turn the hills into straw. 

16 You will winnowthem. 

The wind will carry them away. 

The windstorm will scatter them. 

But you will find joy in the Lord 

and praise the Holy One of Israel. 

17 “The poor and needy are looking for water, but there is none. 

Their tongues are parched with thirst. 

I, the Lord, will answer them. 

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

18 I will make rivers flow on bare hilltops. 

I will make springs flow through valleys. 

I will turn deserts into lakes. 

I will turn dry land into springs. 

19 I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and wild olive trees in the desert. 

I will place cedar, fir, and cypress trees together in the wilderness. 

20 People will see and know. 

Together they will consider and understand 

that the Lord’s power has done this, 

that the Holy One of Israel has created it. 

21 “Present your case,” says the Lord. 

“Bring forward your best arguments,” says Jacob’s king. 

22 “Bring ⸤your idols⸥ so they can tell us what’s going to happen. 

Explain past events that your idols told you about 

so that we may consider them 

and know what their outcome will be. 

Tell us about future events. 

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. 

27 I was the first to tell Zion, ‘Look, here they are.’ 

I gave Jerusalem a messenger with the good news. 

28 When I look, there is no one. 

There is no one to advise them. 

When I ask them a question, 

will they give an answer? 

29 All of them are nothing.

They can’t do anything. 

Their statues are nothing but air.” 

1 “Be silent before Me, islands!

And let peoples renew their strength.

Let them approach, then let them testify;

let us come together for the trial.

2 Who has stirred him up from the east?

He calls righteousness to his feet.

The Lord hands nations over to him,

and he subdues kings.

He makes them like dust with his sword,

like wind-driven stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them, going on safely,

hardly touching the path with his feet.

4 Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I, Yahweh, am the first,

and with the last —I am He.”

5 The islands see and are afraid,

the whole earth trembles.

They approach and arrive.

6 Each one helps the other,

and says to another, “Take courage!”

7 The craftsman encourages the metalworker;

the one who flattens with the hammer

supports the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good.”

He fastens it with nails so that it will not fall over.

8 But you, Israel, My servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

descendant of Abraham, My friend —

9 I brought you from the ends of the earth

and called you from its farthest corners.

I said to you: You are My servant;

I have chosen you and not rejected you.

10 Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you; I will help you;

I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

11 Be sure that all who are enraged against you

will be ashamed and disgraced;

those who contend with you

will become as nothing and will perish.

12 You will look for those who contend with you,

but you will not find them.

Those who war against you

will become absolutely nothing.

13 For I, Yahweh your God,

hold your right hand

and say to you: Do not fear,

I will help you.

14 Do not fear, you worm Jacob,

you men of Israel:

I will help you—

this is the Lord’s declaration.

Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15 See, I will make you into a sharp threshing board,

new, with many teeth.

You will thresh mountains and pulverize them

and make hills into chaff.

16 You will winnow them

and a wind will carry them away,

a gale will scatter them.

But you will rejoice in the Lord;

you will boast in the Holy One of Israel.

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

their tongues are parched with thirst.

I, Yahweh, will answer them;

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

18 I will open rivers on the barren heights,

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.

19 I will plant cedars in the desert,

acacias, myrtles, and olive trees.

I will put juniper trees in the desert,

elms and cypress trees together,

20 so that all may see and know,

consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 “Submit your case,” says the Lord.

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

22 “Let them come and tell us

what will happen.

Tell us the past events,

so that we may reflect on them

and know the outcome,

or tell us the future.

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.

27 I was the first to say to Zion:

Look! Here they are!

And I gave a herald of good news to Jerusalem.

28 When I look, there is no one;

there is no counselor among them;

when I ask them, they have nothing to say.

29 Look, all of them are a delusion;

their works are nonexistent;

their images are wind and emptiness.

1 Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;

let the peoples renew their strength;

let them approach, then let them speak;

let us together draw near for judgment.

2 Who has roused a victor from the east,

summoned him to his service?

He delivers up nations to him,

and tramples kings under foot;

he makes them like dust with his sword,

like driven stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them and passes on safely,

scarcely touching the path with his feet.

4 Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord, am first,

and will be with the last.

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid,

the ends of the earth tremble;

they have drawn near and come.

6 Each one helps the other,

saying to one another, “Take courage!”

7 The artisan encourages the goldsmith,

and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good”;

and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

8 But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,

and called from its farthest corners,

saying to you, “You are my servant,

I have chosen you and not cast you off”;

10 do not fear, for I am with you,

do not be afraid, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

11 Yes, all who are incensed against you

shall be ashamed and disgraced;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

12 You shall seek those who contend with you,

but you shall not find them;

those who war against you

shall be as nothing at all.

13 For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Do not fear,

I will help you.”

14 Do not fear, you worm Jacob,

you insect Israel!

I will help you, says the Lord;

your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15 Now, I will make of you a threshing sledge,

sharp, new, and having teeth;

you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,

and you shall make the hills like chaff.

16 You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away,

and the tempest shall scatter them.

Then you shall rejoice in the Lord;

in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

17 When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them,

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers on the bare heights,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.

19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;

I will set in the desert the cypress,

the plane and the pine together,

20 so that all may see and know,

all may consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 Set forth your case, says the Lord;

bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them, and tell us

what is to happen.

Tell us the former things, what they are,

so that we may consider them,

and that we may know their outcome;

or declare to us the things to come.

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.

27 I first have declared it to Zion,

and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings.

28 But when I look there is no one;

among these there is no counselor

who, when I ask, gives an answer.

29 No, they are all a delusion;

their works are nothing;

their images are empty wind.

1 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,

summoned him to his foot,

gives nations in his presence,

and subjugates kings?

He makes 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?

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 helps his neighbor;

he says to his brother, “Take courage!”

7 And the artisan encourages the goldsmith,

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 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen,

you, the offspring of Abraham my friend,

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 shall be like nothing and shall become lost.

12 You shall seek them,

but you shall not find them;

your opponents 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 to you,

“You must not fear;

I myself, I will help you.

14 You must not fear, O worm of Jacob;

people of Israel,

I myself, I will help you,” declares Yahweh,

“and your redeemer is the holy one of Israel.

15 Look! I will make you into a new sharp threshing sledge,

with sharp edges.

You shall thresh and crush the mountains,

and you shall make the hills like chaff.

16 You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them,

and the tempest shall scatter them.

And you yourself shall rejoice in Yahweh;

you shall boast in the holy one of Israel.

17 The poor and the needy are seeking water and there is none;

their tongue is dried up with thirst.

I, Yahweh, will answer them;

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

18 I will open rivers on the barren heights

and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

I will make the wilderness like a pool of water

and the land of dryness like springs of water.

19 I will put the cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive oil tree in the wilderness;

I will set the cypress, elm, and box tree together in the desert

20 so that they may see and know,

and take to heart and understand together

that the hand of Yahweh has done this,

and the holy one of Israel has created it.”

21 “Present your legal case,” says Yahweh.

“Bring your evidence,” says the king of Jacob.

22 Let them bring them,

and let them tell us what will happen.

Tell us what the former things are

so that we may take them to our heart

and know their outcome.

Declare to us the things to come;

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.

27 First to Zion, look! Look at them!

And I give a herald of good tidings to Jerusalem.

28 But I look and there is no man,

and I look among these and there is no counselor,

that I might ask them and they might answer a word.

29 Look! All of them are deception;

their works are nothing;

their images are wind and emptiness.

1 The Lord says, “People who live on the islands,

come and stand quietly in front of me.

Let the nations gain new strength

in order to state their case.

Let them come forward and speak.

Let us go to court and find out who is right.

2 “Who has stirred up a king from the east?

Who has helped him win his battles?

I hand nations over to him.

I bring kings under his control.

He turns them into dust with his sword.

With his bow he turns them into straw blowing in the wind.

3 He hunts them down. Then he moves on unharmed.

He travels so fast that his feet

don’t seem to touch the ground.

4 Who has made that happen? Who has carried it out?

Who has created all of the people who have ever lived?

I, the Lord, have done it.

I was with the first of them.

And I will be with the last of them.”

5 The people on the islands have seen that king coming.

And it has made them afraid.

People tremble with fear from one end of the earth to the other.

They come and gather together.

6 They help each other.

They say to one another, “Be strong!”

7 One skilled worker makes a statue of a god.

Another covers it with gold.

The first worker says to the second,

“You have done a good job.”

Another worker smooths out the metal with a hammer.

Still another gives the statue its final shape.

The third worker says to the last one,

“You have done a good job.”

Then they nail the statue down so it won’t fall over.

8 The Lord says, “People of Israel, you are my servants.

Family of Jacob, I have chosen you.

You are the children of my friend Abraham.

9 I gathered you from one end of the earth to the other.

From the farthest places on earth I brought you together.

I said, ‘You are my servants.’

I have chosen you.

I have not turned my back on you.

10 So do not be afraid. I am with you.

Do not be terrified. I am your God.

I will make you strong and help you.

My powerful right hand will take good care of you.

I always do what is right.

11 “All those who are angry with you will be put to shame.

And they will be dishonored.

Those who oppose you will be destroyed.

And they will vanish.

12 You might search for your enemies.

But you will not find them.

Those who go to war against you

will completely disappear.

13 I am the Lord your God.

I take hold of your right hand.

I say to you, ‘Do not be afraid.

I will help you.’

14 Family of Jacob, you are as weak as a worm.

But do not be afraid.

People of Israel, there are only a few of you.

But do not be afraid.

I myself will help you,” announces the Lord.

He is the one who sets his people free.

He is the Holy One of Israel.

15 He says, “I will make you into a threshing sled.

It will be new and sharp.

It will have many teeth.

You will grind the mountains down and crush them.

You will turn the hills into nothing but straw.

16 You will toss them in the air.

A strong wind will catch them and blow them away.

You will be glad because I will make that happen.

You will praise me.

I am the Holy One of Israel.

17 “Those who are poor and needy search for water.

But there isn’t any.

Their tongues are dry because they are thirsty.

But I will help them. I am the Lord.

I will not desert them.

I am Israel’s God.

18 I will make streams flow on the bare hilltops.

I will make springs come up in the valleys.

I will turn the desert into pools of water.

I will turn the dry and cracked ground into flowing springs.

19 I will make trees grow in the desert.

I will plant cedar and acacia trees there.

I will plant myrtle and olive trees there.

I will make pine trees grow in the dry and empty desert.

I will plant fir and cypress trees there.

20 Then people will see and know

that my powerful hand has done it.

They will consider and understand

that I have created it.

I am the Holy One of Israel.”

21 The Lord says to the nations and their gods,

“State your case.”

Jacob’s King says to them,

“Prove your case to me.

22 Show me your facts. Tell me and my people

what is going to happen.

Tell us what happened in the past.

Then we can check it out

and see if it is really true.

Or announce to us the things that will take place.

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.

27 I was the first to tell Zion.

I said, ‘Look! The people of Israel are coming back!’

I sent a prophet to Jerusalem with the good news.

28 I look, but there is no one

among the gods that can give me advice.

None of them can answer

when I ask them the simplest question.

29 So they are not really gods at all.

What they do does not amount to anything.

They are as useless as wind.