Isaiah 41:1-9 ▼

1 Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.

2 Who has roused a victor from the east, summoned him to his service? He delivers up nations to him, and tramples kings under foot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow.

3 He pursues them and passes on safely, scarcely touching the path with his feet.

4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am first, and will be with the last.

5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid, the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come.

6 Each one helps the other, saying to one another, “Take courage!”

7 The artisan encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”;