以賽亞書 41
1 眾海島啊，當在我面前靜默； 眾民當重新得力， 都要近前來才可以說話， 我們可以彼此辯論。
Listen to me in silence, you people who live in lands beyond the sea. Let the nations regain their strength. Then let them come and speak, and let us join together for judgment.
2 誰從東方興起一人， 憑公義召他來到腳前呢？ 耶和華將列國交給他， 使他管轄君王， 把他們如灰塵交與他的刀， 如風吹的碎稭交與他的弓。
Who has encouraged this one from the east who is called into God's service to do what is right? He gives him nations, and helps him trample kings underfoot. He makes them like dust with his sword, and turns them into chaff with his bow, blown before him on the wind.
3 他追趕他們， 走他所未走的道， 坦然前行。
He chases them down, and goes on unharmed, not following the usual routes.
4 誰行做成就這事， 從起初宣召歷代呢？ 就是我－耶和華！ 我是首先的， 也與末後的同在。
Who has achieved and done this, calling into existence each generation from the beginning of time? I, the Lord, the first and the last, I am the one.
5 海島看見就都害怕； 地極也都戰兢， 就近前來。
The islands watch in fear, the distant lands tremble. They get together and consult.
6 他們各人幫助鄰舍， 各人對弟兄說：壯膽吧！
They all help each other, encouraging one another to “Be strong!”
7 木匠勉勵銀匠， 用鎚打光的勉勵打砧的， 論銲工說，銲得好； 又用釘子釘穩，免得偶像動搖。
The craftsman encourages the goldsmith; the one who beats out the metal with a hammer encourages the one hitting the anvil, saying the soldering is good. They nail the idol down so it won't fall over.
8 惟你以色列－我的僕人， 雅各－我所揀選的， 我朋友亞伯拉罕的後裔，
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, the ones I have chosen, descendants of my friend Abraham,
9 你是我從地極所領來的， 從地角所召來的， 且對你說：你是我的僕人； 我揀選你，並不棄絕你。
I brought you back from distant lands, I called you back from faraway places, telling you, “You are my servants.” I have chosen you, and I have not abandoned you.
10 你不要害怕，因為我與你同在； 不要驚惶，因為我是你的上帝。 我必堅固你，我必幫助你； 我必用我公義的右手扶持你。
Don't be afraid, for I am with you! Don't be frightened for I, your God, will make you strong, and I will certainly help you. I will support you with my strong hand, acting for what is right.
11 凡向你發怒的必都抱愧蒙羞； 與你相爭的必如無有，並要滅亡。
See—everyone who is angry with you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who fight against you will end up as nothing and die.
12 與你爭競的，你要找他們也找不着； 與你爭戰的必如無有，成為虛無。
Even though you look for your enemies, you won't find them. Those who attack you will become absolutely nothing.
13 因為我耶和華－ 你的上帝必攙扶你的右手， 對你說：不要害怕！ 我必幫助你。
For I the Lord will grab you by the hand and tell you, “Don't be afraid! I myself will help you.
14 你這蟲雅各和你們以色列人， 不要害怕！ 耶和華說：我必幫助你。 你的救贖主就是以色列的聖者。
Don't be frightened, Jacob, you little worm, you people of Israel, for I will help you,” declared the Lord your Savior, the Holy One of Israel.
15 看哪，我已使你成為 有快齒打糧的新器具； 你要把山嶺打得粉碎， 使岡陵如同糠詷。
Look! I will make you into a new and sharp threshing device, with many pointed teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush the hills, turning them into chaff.
16 你要把它簸揚，風要吹去； 旋風要把它颳散。 你倒要以耶和華為喜樂， 以以色列的聖者為誇耀。
You will throw them into the air, the wind will carry them away, and a storm will scatter them. Then you will be happy in the Lord, and boast about the Holy One of Israel.
17 困苦窮乏人尋求水卻沒有； 他們因口渴，舌頭乾燥。 我－耶和華必應允他們； 我－以色列的上帝必不離棄他們。
The poor and needy search for water, but don't find any—their tongues are dry with thirst. I, the Lord, will respond to them; I, the God of Israel, won't abandon them.
18 我要在淨光的高處開江河， 在谷中開泉源； 我要使沙漠變為水池， 使乾地變為湧泉。
I will open up rivers in the desolate highlands and springs in the valleys. I will make pools in the wilderness and springs in the desert.
19 我要在曠野種上香柏樹、 皂莢樹、番石榴樹，和野橄欖樹。 我在沙漠要把松樹、杉樹， 並黃楊樹一同栽植；
I will plant cedars, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees in the desert. I will place evergreens in the desert, firs and box trees together.
20 好叫人看見、知道、 思想、明白； 這是耶和華的手所做的， 是以色列的聖者所造的。
In this way everyone can see and know, they can think about it and draw the conclusion that the it is the Lord who has done this, that the Holy One of Israel made it happen.
21 耶和華對假神說： 你們要呈上你們的案件； 雅各的君說： 你們要聲明你們確實的理由。
“Now you submit your case,” says the Lord. “Present your evidence,” says the King of Jacob.
22 可以聲明，指示我們將來必遇的事， 說明先前的是甚麼事， 好叫我們思索，得知事的結局， 或者把將來的事指示我們。
“Let them come and tell us what's about to happen. Let them explain the things of the past, so that we can think about them and discover the final outcome. Or they can tell us about the future.
23 要說明後來的事， 好叫我們知道你們是神。 你們或降福，或降禍， 使我們驚奇，一同觀看。
Predict what's coming so we can know for sure that you are gods. At least do something, good or bad, to impress us when we see it.
24 看哪，你們屬乎虛無； 你們的作為也屬乎虛空。 那選擇你們的是可憎惡的。
But look at you! You're nothing, and you can't do anything! Anyone who chooses you is disgusting!
25 我從北方興起一人； 他是求告我名的， 從日出之地而來。 他必臨到掌權的， 好像臨到灰泥， 彷彿窯匠踹泥一樣。
I have encouraged the one who comes from the north. He is from the east, and will respect me. He will tread on rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter treading on clay.
26 誰從起初指明這事，使我們知道呢？ 誰從先前說明，使我們說他不錯呢？ 誰也沒有指明； 誰也沒有說明； 誰也沒有聽見你們的話。
Who announced this beforehand so that we could know about it? Who let us know in the past, so that now we could say: ‘He was right’? None of you announced it, none of you predicted it, and nobody heard you say a word!
27 我首先對錫安說： 看哪，我要將一位報好信息的賜給耶路撒冷。
I was the first to announce to Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ I was the one who brought to Jerusalem the good news.
28 我看的時候並沒有人； 我問的時候， 他們中間也沒有謀士可以回答一句。
I look at these idols, and find there is no one who can say anything. None of them can give advice; when I ask them something, they can't even answer.
29 看哪，他們和他們的工作都是虛空， 且是虛無。 他們所鑄的偶像都是風， 都是虛的。
Look at them! They're all evil, deceptive things. They can't do anything! They're just idols full of hot air!”
