Isaías 41
Bible in Basic English
1Come 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.
2Who 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.
3He goes after them safely, not touching the road with his feet.
4Whose 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.
5The sea-lands saw it, and were in fear; the ends of the earth were shaking: they came near.
6They gave help everyone to his neighbour; and everyone said to his brother, Take heart!
7So 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.
8But as for you, Israel, my servant, and you, Jacob, whom I have taken for myself, the seed of Abraham my friend:
9You 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:
10Have 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.
11Truly, 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.
12You 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.
13For I, the Lord your God, have taken your right hand in mine, saying to you, Have no fear; I will be your helper.
14Have 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.
15See, I will make you like a new grain-crushing instrument with teeth, crushing the mountains small, and making the hills like dry stems.
16You 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.
17The 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.
18I 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.
19I 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:
20So 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.
21Put forward your cause, says the Lord; let your strong argument come out, says the King of Jacob.
22Let 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.
23Give 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.
24But you are nothing, and your work is of no value: foolish is he who takes you for his gods.
25I 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.
26Who 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.
27I was the first to give word of it to Zion, and I gave the good news to Jerusalem.
28And I saw that there was no man, even no wise man among them, who might give an answer to my questions.
29Truly they are all nothing, their works are nothing and of no value: their metal images are of no more use than wind.
Reina-Valera 1909
1ESCUCHADME, islas, y esfuércense los pueblos; alléguense, y entonces hablen: estemos juntamente á juicio.
2¿Quién despertó del oriente al justo, lo llamó para que le siguiese, entregó delante de él naciones, é hízolo enseñorear de reyes; entrególos á su espada como polvo, y á su arco como hojarascas arrebatadas?
3Siguiólos, pasó en paz por camino por donde sus pies nunca habían entrado.
4¿Quién obró é hizo esto? ¿Quién llama las generaciones desde el principio? Yo Jehová, el primero, y yo mismo con los postreros.
5Las islas vieron, y tuvieron temor; los términos de la tierra se espantaron: congregáronse, y vinieron.
6Cada cual ayudó á su cercano; y á su hermano dijo: Esfuérzate.
7El carpintero animó al platero, y el que alisa con martillo al que batía en el yunque, diciendo, Buena está la soldadura; y afirmólo con clavos, porque no se moviese.
8Mas tú, Israel, siervo mío eres; tú, Jacob, á quien yo escogí, simiente de Abraham mi amigo.
9Porque te tomé de los extremos de la tierra, y de sus principales te llamé, y te dije: Mi siervo eres tú; te escogí, y no te deseché.
10No temas, que yo soy contigo; no desmayes, que yo soy tu Dios que te esfuerzo: siempre te ayudaré, siempre te sustentaré con la diestra de mi justicia.
11He aquí que todos los que se airan contra ti, serán avergonzados y confundidos: serán como nada y perecerán, los que contienden contigo.
12Los buscarás, y no los hallarás, los que tienen contienda contigo; serán como nada, y como cosa que no es, aquellos que te hacen guerra.
13Porque yo Jehová soy tu Dios, que te ase de tu mano derecha, y te dice: No temas, yo te ayudé.
14No temas, gusano de Jacob, oh vosotros los pocos de Israel; yo te socorrí, dice Jehová, y tu Redentor el Santo de Israel.
15He aquí que yo te he puesto por trillo, trillo nuevo, lleno de dientes: trillarás montes y los molerás, y collados tornarás en tamo.
16Los aventarás, y los llevará el viento, y esparcirálos el torbellino. Tú empero te regocijarás en Jehová, te gloriarás en el Santo de Israel.
17Los afligidos y menesterosos buscan las aguas, que no hay; secóse de sed su lengua; yo Jehová los oiré, yo el Dios de Israel no los desampararé.
18En los altos abriré ríos, y fuentes en mitad de los llanos: tornaré el desierto en estanques de aguas, y en manaderos de aguas la tierra seca.
19Daré en el desierto cedros, espinos, arrayanes, y olivas; pondré en la soledad hayas, olmos, y álamos juntamente;
20Porque vean y conozcan, y adviertan y entiendan todos, que la mano de Jehová hace esto, y que el Santo de Israel lo crió.
21Alegad por vuestra causa, dice Jehová: exhibid vuestros fundamentos, dice el Rey de Jacob.
22Traigan, y anúnciennos lo que ha de venir: dígannos lo que ha pasado desde el principio, y pondremos nuestro corazón en ello: sepamos también su postrimería, y hacednos entender lo que ha de venir.
23Dadnos nuevas de lo que ha de ser después, para que sepamos que vosotros sois dioses; ó á lo menos haced bien, ó mal, para que tengamos qué contar, y juntamente nos maravillemos.
24He aquí que vosotros sois de nada, y vuestras obras de vanidad; abominación el que os escogió.
25Del norte desperté uno, y vendrá; del nacimiento del sol llamará en mi nombre: y hollará príncipes como lodo, y como pisa el barro el alfarero.
26¿Quién lo anunció desde el principio, para que sepamos; ó de tiempo atrás, y diremos: Es justo? Cierto, no hay quien anuncie, sí, no hay quien enseñe, ciertamente no hay quien oiga vuestras palabras.
27Yo soy el primero que he enseñado estas cosas á Sión, y á Jerusalem daré un portador de alegres nuevas.
28Miré, y no había ninguno; y pregunté de estas cosas, y ningún consejero hubo: preguntéles, y no respondieron palabra.
29He aquí, todos iniquidad, y las obras de ellos nada: viento y vanidad son sus vaciadizos.
King James Version
1Keep 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.
2Who 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.
3He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.
4Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
5The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.
6They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.
7So 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.
8But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
9Thou 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.
10Fear 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.
11Behold, 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.
12Thou 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.
13For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
15Behold, 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.
16Thou 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.
17When 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.
18I 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.
19I 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:
20That 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.
21Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
22Let 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.
23Shew 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.
24Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.
25I 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.
26Who 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.
27The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
28For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
29Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.
World English Bible
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.
12You will seek them, and won’t find them, even those who contend with you. Those who war against you will be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing.
13For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’
14Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
15Behold, I have made you into a new sharp threshing instrument with teeth. You will thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and will make the hills like chaff.
16You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, and the whirlwind will scatter them. You will rejoice in the LORD. You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.
17The poor and needy seek water, and there is none. Their tongue fails for thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the middle of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
19I will put cedar, acacia, myrtle, and oil trees in the wilderness. I will set cypress trees, pine, and box trees together in the desert;
20that they may see, know, consider, and understand together, that the LORD’s hand has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.
21Produce your cause,” says the LORD. “Bring out your strong reasons!” says the King of Jacob.
22“Let them announce and declare to us what will happen! Declare the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.
23Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and see it together.
24Behold, you are nothing, and your work is nothing. He who chooses you is an abomination.
25“I have raised up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, one who calls on my name, and he shall come on rulers as on mortar, and as the potter treads clay.
26Who has declared it from the beginning, that we may know? and before, that we may say, ‘He is right’? Surely, there is no one who declares. Surely, there is no one who shows. Surely, there is no one who hears your words.
27I am the first to say to Zion, ‘Behold, look at them;’ and I will give one who brings good news to Jerusalem.
28When I look, there is no man, even among them there is no counselor who, when I ask, can answer a word.
29Behold, all of their deeds are vanity and nothing. Their molten images are wind and confusion.