Isaiah 41:23
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
Declare the things that are going to come afterward, So that we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may be afraid and fear together.

NASB 1995
Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.

NASB 1977
Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.

Legacy Standard Bible
Declare the things that are to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.

Amplified Bible
Tell us the things that are to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, you should do something good or do evil, that we may be afraid and fear [you] together [as we observe the miracle].

Christian Standard Bible
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 when we see it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.

American Standard Version
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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Show us the signs that are going to occur and we shall know that you are gods. Also do good and do evil, and we will be informed and we will see together

Brenton Septuagint Translation
tell us, declare ye to us the things that are coming on at the last time, and we shall know that ye are gods: do good, and do evil, and we shall wonder, and see at the same time

Contemporary English Version
Prove that you are gods by making your predictions come true. Do something good or evil, so we can be amazed and terrified.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Shew the things that are to come hereafter, and we shall know that ye are gods. Do ye also good or evil, if you can: and let us speak, and see together.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
Tell us what the future holds--then we will know that you are gods! Do something good or bring some disaster; fill us with fear and awe!

International Standard Version
Tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods! Yes, do something good or something bad, so we may hear and gaze at it together.'"

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Literal Standard Version
Declare the things that are coming hereafter, | And we know that you [are] gods, | Indeed, you may do good or do evil, | And we look around and see [it] together.

Majority Standard Bible
Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.

New American Bible
tell what is to be in the future, that we may know that you are gods! Do something, good or evil, that will put us in awe and in fear.

NET Bible
Predict how future events will turn out, so we might know you are gods. Yes, do something good or bad, so we might be frightened and in awe.

New Revised Standard Version
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.

New Heart English Bible
Declare 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.

Webster's Bible Translation
Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

World English Bible
Declare 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.

Young's Literal Translation
Declare the things that are coming hereafter, And we know that ye are gods, Yea, ye may do good or do evil, And we look around and see it together.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Meaningless Idols
22“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming. 23Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay. 24Behold, you are nothing and your work is of no value. Anyone who chooses you is detestable.…

Cross References
John 13:19
I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.

Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."

Isaiah 43:9
All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, "It is true."

Isaiah 44:7
Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.

Isaiah 44:8
Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one."

Isaiah 45:3
I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

Isaiah 45:21
Speak up and present your case--yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.


Treasury of Scripture

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 behold it together.

that we may know

Isaiah 42:9
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Isaiah 44:7,8
And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them…

Isaiah 45:8
Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

do good

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Isaiah 46:7
They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

Jeremiah 10:5
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

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Isaiah 41
1. God expostulates with his people, about his mercies to the church.
10. About his promises
21. And about the vanity of idols.














(23) Do good, or do evil.--The challenge reminds us of Elijah's on Mount Carmel (1Kings 18:27). Can the heathen point to any good or evil fortune which, as having been predicted by this or that deity, might reasonably be thought of as his work? It lies in the nature of the case that every heathen looked to his gods as having sent blessings, or the reverse, but it was only Jehovah who could give the proof supplied by prediction.

Verse 23. - Yea, do good, or do evil. Here the proof required of the idol-gods is changed. If they cannot prophesy, can they effect anything? Can they do either good or harm? Let them show this. It is a plain "abatement" from the first demand, and therefore properly introduced by "yea" (aph); comp. 1 Kings 8:27. That we may be dismayed; i.e. rather, perhaps, that we may look to it, or examine it; i.e. see if yon have really shown a power of doing anything.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Tell us
הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ (hag·gî·ḏū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

the things
הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת (hā·’ō·ṯî·yō·wṯ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 857: To arrive

that are to come,
לְאָח֔וֹר (lə·’ā·ḥō·wr)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 268: The hinder part, behind, backward, the West

so that we may know
וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה (wə·nê·ḏə·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you
אַתֶּ֑ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are gods.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Yes,
אַף־ (’ap̄-)
Conjunction
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

do something good
תֵּיטִ֣יבוּ (tê·ṭî·ḇū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3190: To be good, well, glad, or pleasing

or evil,
וְתָרֵ֔עוּ (wə·ṯā·rê·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

that we may look on together in dismay.
וְנִשְׁתָּ֖עָה (wə·niš·tā·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 8159: To gaze at, about, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed, bewildered


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 41:23 Declare the things that are to come (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 41:22
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