41
1 Listen to me in silence, you people who live in lands beyond the sea. Let the nations regain their strength. Then let them come and speak, and let us join together for judgment.* From what follows, and the context of previous verses, this chapter appears to be a call to decide between the true God and idols.
2 Who has encouraged this one from the east who is called into God's service† “Into God's service”: literally, “to his feet.” to do what is right?‡ The prophecy is usually taken to refer to King Cyrus. He gives him nations, and helps him trample kings underfoot. He makes them like dust with his sword, and turns them into chaff with his bow, blown before him on the wind. 3 He chases them down, and goes on unharmed, not following the usual routes. 4 Who has achieved and done this, calling into existence each generation from the beginning of time? I, the Lord, the first and the last, I am the one.
5 The islands watch in fear, the distant lands tremble. They get together and consult. 6 They all help each other, encouraging one another to “Be strong!” 7 The craftsman encourages the goldsmith; the one who beats out the metal with a hammer encourages the one hitting the anvil, saying the soldering is good. They nail the idol down so it won't fall over.
8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, the ones I have chosen, descendants of my friend Abraham, 9 I brought you back from distant lands, I called you back from faraway places, telling you, “You are my servants.” I have chosen you, and I have not abandoned you. 10 Don't be afraid, for I am with you! Don't be frightened for I, your God, will make you strong, and I will certainly help you. I will support you with my strong hand, acting for what is right.
11 See—everyone who is angry with you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who fight against you will end up as nothing and die. 12 Even though you look for your enemies, you won't find them. Those who attack you will become absolutely nothing. 13 For I the Lord will grab you by the hand and tell you, “Don't be afraid! I myself will help you. 14 Don't be frightened, Jacob, you little worm, you people of Israel, for I will help you,” declared the Lord your Savior, the Holy One of Israel. 15 Look! I will make you into a new and sharp threshing device,§ “Threshing device”: used for processing grain. with many pointed teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush the hills, turning them into chaff. 16 You will throw them into the air, the wind will carry them away, and a storm will scatter them. Then you will be happy in the Lord, and boast about the Holy One of Israel.
17 The poor and needy search for water, but don't find any—their tongues are dry with thirst. I, the Lord, will respond to them; I, the God of Israel, won't abandon them. 18 I will open up rivers in the desolate highlands and springs in the valleys. I will make pools in the wilderness and springs in the desert. 19 I will plant cedars, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees in the desert. I will place evergreens in the desert, firs and box trees together. 20 In this way everyone can see and know, they can think about it and draw the conclusion that the it is the Lord who has done this, that the Holy One of Israel made it happen.
21 “Now you submit your case,”* Regarding the abilities of idols in contrast to the evidence of the actions of God already mentioned says the Lord. “Present your evidence,” says the King of Jacob. 22 “Let them† Referring to the idols, the false gods. come and tell us what's about to happen. Let them explain the things of the past, so that we can think about them and discover the final outcome. Or they can tell us about the future. 23 Predict what's coming so we can know for sure that you are gods. At least do something, good or bad, to impress us when we see it. 24 But look at you! You're nothing, and you can't do anything! Anyone who chooses you is disgusting!
25 I have encouraged the one who comes from the north. He is from the east,‡ If this prophecy is taken to refer to Cyrus (see verse 2), then he comes from the east (literally “the rising sun”), but his entrance into Palestine would be from the north. and will respect me.§ “Respect me”: literally, “call on my name,” often associated with the idea of worship. He will tread on rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter treading on clay.* Both mortar and clay were mixed using the feet.
26 Who announced this beforehand so that we could know about it? Who let us know in the past, so that now we could say: ‘He was right’? None of you announced it, none of you predicted it, and nobody heard you say a word!† Referring to the inability of idols to predict the future. 27 I was the first to announce to Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ I was the one who brought to Jerusalem the good news. 28 I look at these idols, and find there is no one who can say anything.‡ Expanded for clarity. None of them can give advice; when I ask them something, they can't even answer. 29 Look at them! They're all evil, deceptive things. They can't do anything! They're just idols full of hot air!§ “Hot air”: literally, “wind and emptiness.””
*41:1 From what follows, and the context of previous verses, this chapter appears to be a call to decide between the true God and idols.
†41:2 “Into God's service”: literally, “to his feet.”
‡41:2 The prophecy is usually taken to refer to King Cyrus.
§41:15 “Threshing device”: used for processing grain.
*41:21 Regarding the abilities of idols in contrast to the evidence of the actions of God already mentioned
†41:22 Referring to the idols, the false gods.
‡41:25 If this prophecy is taken to refer to Cyrus (see verse 2), then he comes from the east (literally “the rising sun”), but his entrance into Palestine would be from the north.
§41:25 “Respect me”: literally, “call on my name,” often associated with the idea of worship.
*41:25 Both mortar and clay were mixed using the feet.
†41:26 Referring to the inability of idols to predict the future.
‡41:28 Expanded for clarity.
§41:29 “Hot air”: literally, “wind and emptiness.”