Is 40:23 He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.
Is 40:24 Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble.
Is 40:25 "To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One.
Is 40:26 Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.
Is 40:27 ¶ Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?
Is 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
Is 40:29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.
Is 40:30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly,
Is 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
Is 41:1 "Coastlands, listen to Me in silence, And let the peoples gain new strength; Let them come forward, then let them speak; Let us come together for judgment.
Is 41:2 "Who has aroused one from the east Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet? He delivers up nations before him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, As the wind-driven chaff with his bow.
Is 41:3 "He pursues them, passing on in safety, By a way he had not been traversing with his feet.
Is 41:4 "Who has performed and accomplished it, Calling forth the generations from the beginning? 'I, the LORD, am the first, and with the last. I am He.'"
Is 41:5 ¶ The coastlands have seen and are afraid; The ends of the earth tremble; They have drawn near and have come.
Is 41:6 Each one helps his neighbor And says to his brother, "Be strong!"
Is 41:7 So the craftsman encourages the 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, So that it will not totter.
Is 41:8 "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,
Is 41:9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.
Is 41:10 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'
Is 41:11 "Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.