Isaiah 41:1-9 ▼

1 Keep silent towards Me, O isles, And the peoples pass on to power, They come nigh, then they speak, 'Together -- to judgment we draw near.'

2 Who stirred up from the east a righteous one? He calleth him to His foot, He giveth before him nations, And kings He causeth him to rule, He giveth them as dust to his sword, As driven stubble to his bow.

3 He pursueth them, he passeth over in safety A path with his feet he entereth not.

4 Who hath wrought and done, Calling the generations from the first? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last I am He.

5 Seen have isles and fear, ends of the earth tremble, They have drawn near, yea, they come.

6 Each his neighbour they help, And to his brother he saith, 'Be strong.'

7 And strengthen doth an artisan the refiner, A smoother with a hammer, Him who is beating on an anvil, Saying, 'For joining it is good,' And he strengtheneth it with nails, it is not moved!

8 -- And thou, 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 thee, And I say to thee, My servant Thou art, I have chosen thee, and not rejected thee.