Isaiah 41:1-9 ▼

1 Keep silent toward Me, O islands, || And the peoples pass on [to] power, || They come near, then they speak, “Together we draw near to judgment.”

2 Who stirred up a righteous one from the east? He calls him to His foot, || He gives nations before him, || And He causes him to rule kings, || He gives [them] as dust [to] his sword, || As driven stubble [to] his bow.

3 He pursues them, he passes over in safety || A path he does not enter with his feet.

4 Who has worked and done, || Calling the generations from the first? I, YHWH, the first, and with the last I [am] He.

5 Islands have seen and fear, || The ends of the earth tremble, || They have drawn near, indeed, they come.

6 They each help his neighbor, || And to his brother he says, “Be strong.”

7 And an artisan strengthens the refiner, || A smoother [with] a hammer, || Him who is beating [on] an anvil, saying, “For joining it [is] good,” || And he strengthens it with nails, it is not moved!

8 And you, O Israel, My servant, || Jacob, whom I have chosen, || Seed of Abraham, My lover,

9 Whom I have taken hold of, from the ends of the earth, || And from its near places I have called you, || And I say to you, You [are] My servant, || I have chosen you, and not rejected you.