Isaiah 41:1-9

God's Assurance to Israel

41¹ Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment. ² Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step?[1] He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. ³ He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod. ⁴ Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he. ⁵ The coastlands have seen and are afraid; the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come. ⁶ Everyone helps his neighbor and says to his brother, "Be strong!" ⁷ The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith, and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good"; and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved. ⁸ But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; ⁹ you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off";