Isaiæ 41
1 Taceant ad me insulae, et Gentes mutent fortitudinem: accedant, et tunc loquantur, simul ad iudicium propinquemus.
“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.
2 Quis suscitavit ab Oriente iustum, vocavit eum ut sequeretur se? dabit in conspectu eius Gentes, et reges obtinebit: dabit quasi pulverem gladio eius, sicut stipulam vento raptam arcui eius.
Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
3 Persequetur eos, transibit in pace, semita in pedibus eius non apparebit.
He pursues them, going on safely, hardly touching the path with his feet.
4 Quis haec operatus est, et fecit, vocans generationes ab exordio? Ego Dominus, primus et novissimus ego sum.
Who 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.”
5 Viderunt insulae, et timuerunt, extrema terrae obstupuerunt, appropinquaverunt, et accesserunt.
The islands see and fear; the ends of the earth tremble. They approach and come forward.
6 Unusquisque proximo suo auxiliabitur, et fratri suo dicet: Confortare.
Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
7 Confortavit faber aerarius percutiens malleo eum, qui cudebat tunc temporis, dicens: Glutino bonum est: et confortavit eum clavis, ut non moveretur.
The 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 Et tu Israel serve meus, Iacob quem elegi, semen Abraham amici mei:
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend—
9 In quo apprehendi te ab extremis terrae, et a longinquis eius vocavi te, et dixi tibi: Servus meus es tu, elegi te, et non abieci te.
I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you.
10 Ne timeas, quia ego tecum sum: ne declines, quia ego Deus tuus: confortavi te, et auxiliatus sum tibi, et suscepit te dextera iusti mei.
Do 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 right hand of righteousness.
11 Ecce confundentur et erubescent omnes, qui pugnant adversum te: erunt quasi non sint, et peribunt viri, qui contradicunt tibi.
Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.
12 Quaeres eos, et non invenies, viros rebelles tuos: erunt quasi non sint: et veluti consumptio homines bellantes adversum te.
You will seek them but will not find them. Those who wage war against you will come to nothing.
13 Quia ego Dominus Deus tuus apprehendens manum tuam, dicensque tibi: Ne timeas, ego adiuvi te.
For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.
14 Noli timere vermis Iacob, qui mortui estis ex Israel: ego auxiliatus sum tibi, dicit Dominus: et redemptor tuus sanctus Israel.
Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
15 Ego posui te quasi plaustrum triturans novum, habens rostra serrantia: triturabis montes, et comminues: et colles quasi pulverem pones.
Behold, 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.
16 Ventilabis eos, et ventus tollet, et turbo disperget eos: et tu exultabis in Domino, in sancto Israel laetaberis.
You 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.
17 Egeni, et pauperes quaerunt aquas, et non sunt: lingua eorum siti aruit. Ego Dominus exaudiam eos, Deus Israel non derelinquam eos.
The 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.
18 Aperiam in excelsis collibus flumina, et in medio camporum fontes: ponam desertum in stagna aquarum, et terram inviam in rivos aquarum.
I 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.
19 Dabo in solitudinem cedrum, et spinam, et myrtum, et lignum olivae: ponam in deserto abietem, ulmum, et buxum simul:
I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together,
20 Ut videant, et sciant, et recogitent, et intelligant pariter quia manus Domini fecit hoc, et sanctus Israel creavit illud.
so that all may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”
21 Prope facite iudicium vestrum, dicit Dominus: afferte, siquid forte habetis, dicit rex Iacob.
“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.
22 Accedant, et nuncient nobis quaecumque ventura sunt: priora quae fuerunt nunciate: et ponemus cor nostrum, et sciemus novissima eorum, et quae ventura sunt indicate nobis.
“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.
23 Annunciate quae ventura sunt in futurum, et sciemus quia dii estis vos. bene quoque aut male, si potestis, facite: et loquamur, et videamus simul.
Tell 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.
24 Ecce, vos estis ex nihilo, et opus vestrum ex eo, quod non est: abominatio est qui elegit vos.
Behold, you are nothing and your work is of no value. Anyone who chooses you is detestable.
25 Suscitavi ab Aquilone, et veniet ab Ortu solis: vocabit nomen meum, et adducet magistratus quasi lutum, et velut plastes conculcans humum.
I 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.
26 Quis annunciavit ab exordio ut sciamus: et a principio ut dicamus: Iustus es? non est neque annuncians, neque praedicens, neque audiens sermones vestros.
Who 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.
27 Primus ad Sion dicet: Ecce adsum, et Ierusalem evangelistam dabo.
I was the first to tell Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ And I gave to Jerusalem a herald of good news.
28 Et vidi, et non erat neque ex istis quisquam qui iniret consilium, et interrogatus responderet verbum.
When I look, there is no one; there is no counselor among them; when I ask them, they have nothing to say.
29 Ecce omnes iniusti, et vana opera eorum: ventus et inane simulachra eorum.
See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.
