God Helps Israel

1 Come quietly before me, O sea-lands, and let the peoples get together their strength: let them come near; then let them say what they have to say: let us put forward our cause against one another.

1 (A)Coastlands, listen to Me (B)in silence,And let the peoples (C)gain new strength;(D)Let them come forward, then let them speak;(E)Let us come together for judgment.

1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.

1 “Be silent before Me, islands!(A)And let peoples renew their strength.Let them approach, then let them testify;let us come together for the trial.

1 "Be silent before me, you coastlands, and let the people renew their strength! Let them come forward, then let them speak together let's draw near for a ruling.

2 Who sent out from the east one who is right wherever he goes? he gives the nations into his hands, and makes him ruler over kings; he gives them as the dust to his sword, as dry stems before the wind to his bow.

2 (F)Who has aroused one from the eastWhom He (G)calls in righteousness to His (a)feet?He (H)delivers up nations before himAnd subdues kings.He makes them like (I)dust with his sword,As the wind-driven (J)chaff with his bow.

2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.

2 Who has stirred him up from the east?(B)He calls righteousness to his feet.(a)(C)The Lord hands nations over to him,(D)and he subdues kings.He makes them like dust with his sword,like wind-driven stubble with his bow.

2 Who has aroused victory from the east, and has summoned it to his service, and has handed over nations to him? Who brings down kings, and turns them into dust with his sword, into windblown stubble with his bow?

3 He goes after them safely, not touching the road with his feet.

3 “He pursues them, passing on in safety,By a way he had not been (b)traversing with his feet.

3 He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

3 He pursues them, going on safely,hardly touching the path with his feet.

3 And who pursues them and moves on unscathed by a path that his feet don't know?

4 Whose purpose and work was it? His who sent out the generations from the start. I the Lord, the first, and with the last, I am he.

4 (K)Who has performed and accomplished it,Calling forth the generations from the beginning?(L)I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. (M)I am He.’”

4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

4 Who has performed and done this,calling the generations from the beginning?I, Yahweh, am the first,and with the last(E)—I am He.”(F)

4 Who has performed and carried this out, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD the first and will be with the last I am the One!"

5 The sea-lands saw it, and were in fear; the ends of the earth were shaking: they came near.

5 The (N)coastlands have seen and are afraid;The (O)ends of the earth tremble;They have drawn near and have come.

5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.

5 The islands see and are afraid,the whole earth trembles.(G)They approach and arrive.

5 "The coastlands have looked and are afraid; the ends of the earth have drawn near together and come forward.

6 They gave help everyone to his neighbour; and everyone said to his brother, Take heart!

6 Each one helps his neighborAnd says to his brother, “Be strong!”

6 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

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

6 Each helps his neighbor, saying to each other, "Be strong!'

7 So the metal-worker put heart into the gold-worker, and he who was hammering the metal smooth said kind words to the iron-worker, saying of the plate, It is ready: and he put it together with nails, so that there might be no slipping.

7 So the (P)craftsman encourages the (Q)smelter,And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,Saying of the soldering, “It is good”;And he fastens it with nails,(R)So that it will not totter.

7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

7 The craftsman encourages the metalworker;(H)the one who flattens with the hammersupports the one who strikes the anvil,saying of the soldering, “It is good.”He fastens it with nails so that it will not fall over.(I)

7 The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and the hammersmith encourages the one who strikes the anvil. He says about the welding, "It's good!' and he reinforces it with nails so that it won't topple."

Only The Lord Can Save Us

8 But as for you, Israel, my servant, and you, Jacob, whom I have taken for myself, the seed of Abraham my friend:

8 “But you, Israel, (S)My servant,Jacob whom I have chosen,Descendant of (T)Abraham My (U)friend,

8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

8 But you, Israel, My servant,(J)Jacob, whom I have chosen,(K)descendant of Abraham, My friend(L)

8 "But as for you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I've chosen, the offspring of my friend Abraham

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and sent for from its farthest parts, saying to you, You are my servant, whom I have taken for myself, and whom I have not given up:

9 You whom I have (c)(V)taken from the ends of the earth,And called from its (W)remotest partsAnd said to you, ‘You are (X)My servant,I have (Y)chosen you and not rejected you.

9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

9 I brought(b) you from the ends of the earthand called you from its farthest corners.I said to you: You are My servant;I have chosen you and not rejected you.(M)

9 you whom I encouraged from the ends of the earth and called from its farthest corners, and told you, "You're my servant, I've chosen you and haven't cast you aside.'

10 Have no fear, for I am with you; do not be looking about in trouble, for I am your God; I will give you strength, yes, I will be your helper; yes, my true right hand will be your support.

10 ‘Do not (Z)fear, for I am with you;Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.I will strengthen you, surely (AA)I will help you,Surely I will uphold you with My righteous (AB)right hand.’

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

10 Do not fear, for I am with you;(N)do not be afraid, for I am your God.(O)I will strengthen you; I will help you;I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.(P)

10 Don't be afraid, because I'm with you; don't be anxious, because I am your God. I keep on strengthening you; I'm truly helping you. I'm surely upholding you with my victorious right hand."

11 Truly, all those who are angry with you will be made low and put to shame: those desiring to do you wrong will come to nothing and never again be seen.

11 “Behold, (AC)all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored;(AD)Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.

11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

11 Be sure that all who are enraged against youwill be ashamed and disgraced;(Q)those who contend with youwill become as nothing and will perish.

11 "Look! All who are enraged at you will be put to shame and disgraced; those who contend with you will all die.

12 You will make search for your haters but they will not be there; those who make war against you will be as nothing and will come to destruction.

12 (AE)You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them,Those who war with you will be as nothing and non-existent.

12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

12 You will look for those who contend with you,but you will not find them.Those who war against youwill become absolutely nothing.

12 Those who quarrel with you will be as nothing; those who fight you like nothing at all!"

13 For I, the Lord your God, have taken your right hand in mine, saying to you, Have no fear; I will be your helper.

13 “For I am the Lord your God, (AF)who upholds your right hand,Who says to you, ‘(AG)Do not fear, I will help you.’

13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

13 For I, Yahweh your God,(R)hold your right handand say to you: Do not fear,I will help you.

13 "For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, "Don't be afraid. I'll help you.

14 Have no fear, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will be your helper, says the Lord, even he who takes up your cause, the Holy One of Israel.

14 “Do not fear, you (AH)worm Jacob, you men of Israel;I will help you,” declares the Lord, “(d)and (AI)your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

14 Do not fear, you worm Jacob,(S)you men(c) of Israel:I will help you—this is the Lord’s declaration.Your Redeemer(T) is the Holy One of Israel.(U)

14 Don't be afraid, you little worm Jacob, and you insects of Israel! I myself will help you,' declares the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel."

15 See, I will make you like a new grain-crushing instrument with teeth, crushing the mountains small, and making the hills like dry stems.

15 “Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges;(AJ)You will thresh the (AK)mountains and pulverize them,And will make the hills like chaff.

15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

15 See, I will make you into a sharp threshing board,new, with many teeth.You will thresh mountains and pulverize themand make hills into chaff.(V)

15 "See, I'm making you into a new, sharp, and multi-tooth threshing sledge. You'll thresh and crush the mountains, and make the hills like chaff.

16 You will send the wind over them, and it will take them away; they will go in all directions before the storm-wind: you will have joy in the Lord, and be glad in the Holy One of Israel.

16 “You will (AL)winnow them, and the wind will carry them away,And the storm will scatter them;But you will (AM)rejoice in the Lord,You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

16 You will winnow them(W)and a wind will carry them away,a gale will scatter them.But you will rejoice in the Lord;you will boast in the Holy One of Israel.

16 You'll winnow them, and the wind will lift them up, and a tempest will blow them away. Then you'll rejoice in the LORD, and you'll make your boast in the Holy One of Israel."

17 The poor and crushed are looking for water where no water is, and their tongue is dry for need of it: I the Lord will give ear to their prayer, I the God of Israel will not give them up.

17 “The (e)afflicted and needy are seeking (AN)water, but there is none,And their tongue is parched with thirst;I, the Lord, (AO)will answer them Myself,As the God of Israel I (AP)will not forsake them.

17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

17 The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none;their tongues are parched with thirst.I, Yahweh, will answer them;(X)I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

17 "As for the poor, the needy, those seeking water when there is none and their tongues are parched from thirst I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, won't abandon them.

18 I will make rivers on the dry mountain-tops, and fountains in the valleys: I will make the waste land a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

18 “I will open (AQ)rivers on the bare heightsAnd springs in the midst of the valleys;I will make (AR)the wilderness a pool of waterAnd the dry land fountains of water.

18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

18 I will open rivers on the barren heights,(Y)and springs in the middle of the plains.I will turn the desert into a pool of waterand dry land into springs of water.(Z)

18 I'll open up rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I'll turn the desert into a pool of water, and the parched land into springs of water.

19 I will put in the waste land the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive-tree; and in the lowland will be planted the fir-tree, the plane, and the cypress together:

19 “I will put the cedar in the wilderness,The acacia and the (AS)myrtle and the (f)olive tree;I will place the (AT)juniper in the desertTogether with the box tree and the cypress,

19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

19 I will plant cedars in the desert,acacias, myrtles, and olive trees.(AA)I will put juniper trees in the desert,elms and cypress trees together,

19 I'll put cedar trees in the wilderness, along with acacia, myrtle, and olive trees. I'll plant cypresses in the desert box trees, and pine trees together

20 So that they may see and be wise and give their mind to it, and that it may be clear to them all that the hand of the Lord has done this, and that the Holy One of Israel has made it.

20 That (AU)they may see and recognize,And consider and gain insight as well,That the (AV)hand of the Lord has done this,And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

20 so that all may see and know,consider and understand,that the hand of the Lord has done this,(AB)the Holy One of Israel has created(AC) it.

20 all so that people may see and recognize, perceive, consider, and comprehend at the same time, that the hand of the LORD has done this, and that the Holy One of Israel has created it."

The Futility Of Idols

21 Put forward your cause, says the Lord; let your strong argument come out, says the King of Jacob.

21 (g)Present your case,” the Lord says.“Bring forward your strong arguments,”The (AW)King of Jacob says.

21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

21 “Submit your case,” says the Lord.“Present your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.

21 "Put forward your case!" says the LORD. "Submit your arguments!" says Jacob's King.

22 Let the future be made clear to us: give us news of the past things, so that we may give thought to them; or of the things to come, so that we may see if they are true.

22 (AX)Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place;As for the (AY)former events, declare what they were,That we may consider them and know their outcome.Or announce to us what is coming;

22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

22 “Let them come and tell uswhat will happen.(AD)Tell us the past events,so that we may reflect on themand know the outcome,or tell us the future.

22 Let them approach and ask us, "What will happen? As to the former things, what were they? Tell us, so that we may consider them and know. Or the latter things or the things to come let us hear.

23 Give us word of what will be after this, so that we may be certain that you are gods: yes, do good or do evil, so that we may all see it and be surprised.

23 (AZ)Declare the things that are going to come afterward,That we may know that you are gods;Indeed, (BA)do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.

23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

23 Tell us the coming events,(AE)then we will know that you are gods.Indeed, do something good or bad,then we will be in awe(d) and perceive.

23 Tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods! Yes, do something good or something bad, so we may hear and gaze at it together.'"

24 But you are nothing, and your work is of no value: foolish is he who takes you for his gods.

24 Behold, (BB)you are of (h)no account,And (BC)your work amounts to nothing;He who chooses you is an (BD)abomination.

24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

24 Look, you are nothing(AF)and your work is worthless.Anyone who chooses you is detestable.

24 "Look! You and your work are less than nothing; whoever finds you pleasing is disgusting."

25 I have sent for one from the north, and from the dawn he has come; in my name he will get rulers together and go against them; they will be like dust, even as the wet earth is stamped on by the feet of the potter.

25 “I have aroused (BE)one from the north, and he has come;From the rising of the sun he will call on My name;And he will come upon rulers as upon (BF)mortar,Even as the potter treads clay.”

25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

25 “I have raised up one from the north,(AG) and he has come,one from the east(AH) who invokes My(e) name.(AI)He will march over rulers as if they were mud,like a potter who treads the clay.

25 "You are stirring up one from the north, and they are coming from the rising of the sun; and he will be called by his name. Rulers will arrive like mud; just like a potter, he will trample the clay.

26 Who has given knowledge of it from the first, so that we may be certain of it? and from the start, so that we may say, His word is true? There is no one who gives news, or says anything, or who gives ear to your words.

26 Who has (BG)declared this from the beginning, that we might know?Or from former times, that we may say, “He is right!”?Surely there was (BH)no one who declared,Surely there was no one who proclaimed,Surely there was no one who heard your words.

26 Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

26 Who told about this from the beginning,so that we might know,and from times past,so that we might say: He is right?No one announced it,no one told it,no one heard your words.

26 Who told of this from the beginning, so we could know, or beforehand, so we could ask, "Is it right?' Indeed, no one told of this, no one made an announcement, and no one heard your words:

27 I was the first to give word of it to Zion, and I gave the good news to Jerusalem.

27 (BI)Formerly I said to Zion, ‘Behold, here they are.’And to Jerusalem, ‘I will give a (BJ)messenger of good news.’

27 The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

27 I was the first to say to Zion:(f)Look! Here they are!And I gave a herald of good news to Jerusalem.(AJ)

27 First, to Zion: "There is slumber." And to Jerusalem: "I'll send a messenger with good news."

28 And I saw that there was no man, even no wise man among them, who might give an answer to my questions.

28 “But (BK)when I look, there is no one,And there is no (BL)counselor (i)among themWho, if I ask, can (BM)give an answer.

28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

28 When I look, there is no one;there is no counselor among them;when I ask them, they have nothing to say.(AK)

28 But when I look, there is no one among them there's no one to give counsel, no one to give an answer when I ask them.

29 Truly they are all nothing, their works are nothing and of no value: their metal images are of no more use than wind.

29 “Behold, all of them are (j)false;Their (BN)works are (BO)worthless,Their molten images are (BP)wind and emptiness.

29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

29 Look, all of them are a delusion;(g)their works are nonexistent;their images are wind and emptiness.

29 See, none of them exist, and their deeds are nothing. Their metal images are only wind and confusion.'"

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

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