Isaiah 41:1-12 ▼

1 Keep silence before Me, O islands, And let the peoples renew their strength; Let them draw near, then let them speak; Let us come near together to judgment.

2 Who hath raised up one from the east, At whose steps victory attendeth? He giveth nations before him, And maketh him rule over kings; His sword maketh them as the dust, His bow as the driven stubble.

3 He pursueth them, and passeth on safely; The way with his feet he treadeth not.

4 Who hath wrought and done it? He that called the generations from the beginning. I, the LORD, who am the first, And with the last am the same.

5 The isles saw, and feared; The ends of the earth trembled; They drew near, and came.

6 They helped every one his neighbour; And every one said to his brother: 'Be of good courage.'

7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, And he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, Saying of the soldering: 'It is good'; And he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

8 But thou, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The seed of Abraham My friend;

9 Thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, And called thee from the uttermost parts thereof, And said unto thee: 'Thou art My servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away';

10 Fear thou not, for I am with thee, Be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I strengthen thee, yea, I help thee; Yea, I uphold thee with My victorious right hand.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee Shall be ashamed and confounded; They that strove with thee Shall be as nothing, and shall perish.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, Even them that contended with thee; They that warred against thee Shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.