Isaiah 41:17–24

¹⁷When 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.^*

¹⁸I 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.^*

¹⁹I 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,

²⁰so 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.^*

The Futility of Idols

²¹Set forth your case, says the Lord;

bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.^*

²²Let them bring them and tell us

what is to happen.

Tell us the former things, what they were,

so that we may consider them

and that we may know their outcome

or declare to us the things to come.^*

²³Tell 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.^*

²⁴You, indeed, are nothing,

and your work is nothing at all;

whoever chooses you is an abomination.^*