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 has roused a victor from the east, summoned him to his service? He delivers up nations to him, and tramples kings under foot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. ³ He pursues them and passes on safely, scarcely touching the path with his feet. ⁴ Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, am first, and will be with the last. ⁵ The coastlands have seen and are afraid, the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come. ⁶ Each one helps the other, saying to one another, "Take courage!" ⁷ The artisan encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good"; and they fasten 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";