Isaiah

神对以色列的保证

1众海岛啊，当在我面前静默； 众民当从新得力， 都要近前来才可以说话， 我们可以彼此辩论。

2谁从东方兴起一人， 凭公义召他来到脚前呢？ 耶和华将列国交给他， 使他管辖君王， 把他们如灰尘交与他的刀， 如风吹的碎秸交与他的弓。

3他追赶他们， 走他所未走的道， 坦然前行。

4谁行做成就这事， 从起初宣召历代呢？ 就是我—耶和华！ 我是首先的， 也与末后的同在。

5海岛看见就都害怕； 地极也都战兢， 就近前来。

6他们各人帮助邻舍， 各人对弟兄说：壮胆吧！

7木匠勉励银匠， 用锤打光的勉励打砧的， 论焊工说，焊得好； 又用钉子钉稳，免得偶像动摇。

8惟你以色列—我的仆人， 雅各—我所拣选的， 我朋友亚伯拉罕的后裔，

9你是我从地极所领来的， 从地角所召来的， 且对你说：你是我的仆人； 我拣选你，并不弃绝你。

10你不要害怕，因为我与你同在； 不要惊惶，因为我是你的 神。 我必坚固你，我必帮助你； 我必用我公义的右手扶持你。

11凡向你发怒的必都抱愧蒙羞； 与你相争的必如无有，并要灭亡。

12与你争竞的，你要找他们也找不着； 与你争战的必如无有，成为虚无。

13因为我耶和华— 你的 神必搀扶你的右手， 对你说：不要害怕！ 我必帮助你。

14你这虫雅各和你们以色列人， 不要害怕！ 耶和华说：我必帮助你。 你的救赎主就是以色列的圣者。

15看哪，我已使你成为 有快齿打粮的新器具； 你要把山岭打得粉碎， 使冈陵如同糠秕。

16你要把它簸扬，风要吹去； 旋风要把它刮散。 你倒要以耶和华为喜乐， 以以色列的圣者为夸耀。

17困苦穷乏人寻求水却没有； 他们因口渴，舌头干燥。 我—耶和华必应允他们； 我—以色列的 神必不离弃他们。

18我要在净光的高处开江河， 在谷中开泉源； 我要使沙漠变为水池， 使干地变为涌泉。

19我要在旷野种上香柏树、 皂荚树、番石榴树，和野橄榄树。 我在沙漠要把松树、杉树， 并黄杨树一同栽植；

20好叫人看见、知道、 思想、明白； 这是耶和华的手所做的， 是以色列的圣者所造的。

耶和华向假神挑战

21耶和华对假神说： 你们要呈上你们的案件； 雅各的君说： 你们要声明你们确实的理由。

22可以声明，指示我们将来必遇的事， 说明先前的是什么事， 好叫我们思索，得知事的结局， 或者把将来的事指示我们。

23要说明后来的事， 好叫我们知道你们是神。 你们或降福，或降祸， 使我们惊奇，一同观看。

24看哪，你们属乎虚无； 你们的作为也属乎虚空。 那选择你们的是可憎恶的。

25我从北方兴起一人； 他是求告我名的， 从日出之地而来。 他必临到掌权的， 好像临到灰泥， 仿佛窑匠踹泥一样。

26谁从起初指明这事，使我们知道呢？ 谁从先前说明，使我们说他不错呢？ 谁也没有指明； 谁也没有说明； 谁也没有听见你们的话。

27我首先对锡安说： 看哪，我要将一位报好信息的赐给耶路撒冷。

28我看的时候并没有人； 我问的时候， 他们中间也没有谋士可以回答一句。

29看哪，他们和他们的工作都是虚空， 且是虚无。 他们所铸的偶像都是风， 都是虚的。

God’s Help to Israel

1“Be silent before Me, O islands,and let the peoples renew their strength.Let them come forward and testify;let us together draw near for judgment.

2Who has aroused one from the eastand called him to his feet in righteousness?He hands nations over to himand subdues kings before him.He turns them to dust with his sword,to windblown chaff with his bow.

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

4Who has performed this and carried it out,calling forth the generations from the beginning?I, the LORD—the first and the last—I am He.”

5The islands see and fear;the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward.

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

7The craftsman encourages the goldsmith,and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil,saying of the welding, “It is good.”He nails it down so it will not be toppled.

8“But you, O Israel, My servant,Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—

9I brought you from the ends of the earthand called you from its farthest corners.I said, ‘You are My servant.’I have chosen and not rejected you.

10Do not fear, for I am with you;do not be afraid, for I am your God.I will strengthen you; I will surely help you;I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

11Behold, all who rage against youwill be ashamed and disgraced;those who contend with youwill be reduced to nothing and will perish.

12You will seek them but will not find them.Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.

13For I am the LORD your God,who takes hold of your right handand tells you: Do not fear,I will help you.

14Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm,O few men of Israel.I will help you,” declares the LORD.“Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge,new and sharp, with many teeth.You will thresh the mountains and crush them,and reduce the hills to chaff.

16You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away;a gale will scatter them.But you will rejoice in the LORD;you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

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

18I will open rivers on the barren heights,and fountains in the middle of the valleys.I will turn the desert into a pool of water,and the dry land into flowing springs.

19I will plant cedars in the wilderness,acacias, myrtles, and olive trees.I will set cypressesin the desert,elms and boxwood together,

20so that all may see and know,may consider and understand,that the hand of the LORD has done thisand the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

Meaningless Idols

21“Present your case,” says the LORD.“Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.

22“Let them come and tell us what will happen.Tell the former things,so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome.Or announce to us what is coming.

23Tell us the things that are to come,so that we may know that you are gods.Yes, do something good or evil,that we may look on together in dismay.

24Behold, you are nothingand your work is of no value. Anyone who chooses you is detestable.

25I have raised up one from the north, and he has come—one from the east who calls on My name.He will march over rulers as if they were mortar,like a potter who treads the clay.

26Who has declared this from the beginning,so that we may know,and from times past,so that we may say: ‘He was right’?No one announced it, no one foretold it,no one heard your words.

27I was the first to tell Zion:‘Look, here they are!’And I gave to Jerusalema herald of good news.

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

29See, they are all a delusion;their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.