Isaiah 41

¹“Keep silent before me, islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near, then let them speak. Let’s meet together for judgment.

²Who has raised up one from the east? Who called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands over nations to him and makes him rule over kings. He gives them like the dust to his sword, like the driven stubble to his bow.

³He pursues them and passes by safely, even by a way that he had not gone with his feet.

⁴Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last, I am he.”

⁵The islands have seen, and fear. The ends of the earth tremble. They approach, and come.

⁶Everyone helps his neighbor. They say to their brothers, “Be strong!”

⁷So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith. He who smooths with the hammer encourages him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good;” and he fastens it with nails, that it might not totter.

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

⁹you whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from its corners, and said to you, ‘You are my servant. I have chosen you and have not cast you away.’

¹⁰Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

¹¹Behold, all those who are incensed against you will be disappointed and confounded. Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and shall perish.