The Futility of Idols

21 “Present your case,” says the Lord.

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

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

Let them show the bformer things, what they were,

That we may 6consider them,

And know the latter end of them;

Or declare to us things to come.

23 cShow the things that are to come hereafter,

That we may know that you are gods;

Yes, ddo good or do evil,

That we may be dismayed and see it together.

24 Indeed eyou 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 7rising of the sun fhe shall call on My name;

gAnd he shall come against princes as though mortar,

As the potter treads clay.

26 hWho 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 iThe first time jI said to Zion,

‘Look, there they are!’

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

28 kFor 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 lIndeed they are all 8worthless;

Their works are nothing;

Their molded images are wind and confusion.