Isaiah 41:21–29

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.^*

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

from the rising of the sun he was summoned by name.^t

He shall trample^u on rulers as on mortar,

as the potter treads clay.^*

²⁶Who 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.^*

²⁷I first have declared it to Zion,^v

and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings.^*

²⁸But when I look there is no one;

among these there is no counselor

who, when I ask, gives an answer.^*

²⁹No, they are all a delusion;

their works are nothing;

their images are empty wind.^*