Isaiah 41:1–13

Israel Encouraged

1 “aCoastlands, listen to Me bin silence,

And let the peoples cgain new strength;

dLet them come forward, then let them speak;

eLet us come together for judgment.

2 “aWho has aroused one from the east

Whom He bcalls in righteousness to His 1feet?

He cdelivers up nations before him

And subdues kings.

He makes them like ddust with his sword,

As the wind-driven echaff with his bow.

3 “He pursues them, passing on in safety,

By a way he had not been 1traversing with his feet.

4 “aWho has performed and accomplished it,

Calling forth the generations from the beginning?

‘bI, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. cI am He.’ ”

5 The acoastlands have seen and are afraid;

The bends of the earth tremble;

They have drawn near and have come.

6 Each one helps his neighbor

And says to his brother, “Be strong!”

7 So the acraftsman encourages the bsmelter,

And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,

Saying of the soldering, “It is good”;

And he fastens it with nails,

cSo that it will not totter.

8 “But you, Israel, aMy servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

Descendant of bAbraham My cfriend,

9 You whom I have 1 ataken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its bremotest parts

And said to you, ‘You are cMy servant,

I have dchosen you and not rejected you.

10 ‘Do not afear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely bI will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous cright hand.’

11 “Behold, aall those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;

bThose who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.

12 “aYou will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,

Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.

13 “For I am the Lord your God, awho upholds your right hand,

Who says to you, ‘bDo not fear, I will help you.’