Isaiah 41:17-29 ▼

17 The poor and the needy are seeking water, || And there is none, || Their tongue has failed with thirst, || I, YHWH, answer them, || The God of Israel—I do not forsake them.

18 I open rivers on high places, || And fountains in midst of valleys, || I make a wilderness become a pond of water, || And a dry land becomes springs of water.

19 I give in a wilderness the cedar, || Shittah, and myrtle, and oil-tree, || I set in a desert the fir-pine and box-wood together.

20 So that they see, and know, || And regard, and act wisely together, || For the hand of YHWH has done this, || And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 Bring your cause near, says YHWH, || Bring your mighty ones near, says the King of Jacob.

22 They bring [them] near, and declare to us that which happens, || Declare the first things—what they [are], || And we set our heart, and know their latter end, || Or cause us to hear the coming things.

23 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.

24 Behold, you [are] of nothing, and your work of nothing, || An abomination—it fixes on you.

25 I have stirred up [one] from the north, || And he comes, || From the rising of the sun he calls in My Name, || And he comes in [on] prefects as [on] clay, || And as a potter treads down mire.

26 Who has declared from the first, and we know? And formerly, and we say, “Righteous?” Indeed, there is none declaring, || Indeed, there is none proclaiming, || Indeed, there is none hearing your sayings.

27 First to Zion, || Behold, behold them, || And to Jerusalem I give one proclaiming tidings,

28 And I see that there is no man, || Indeed, of these that there is no counselor, || And I ask them, and they return word:

29 “Behold, all of them [are] vanity, || Their works [are] nothing, || Their molten images [are] wind and emptiness!”