Isaiæ 41
1 Taceant ad me insulae, et Gentes mutent fortitudinem: accedant, et tunc loquantur, simul ad iudicium propinquemus.
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 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 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 Persequetur eos, transibit in pace, semita in pedibus eius non apparebit.
He chases them down, and goes on unharmed, not following the usual routes.
4 Quis haec operatus est, et fecit, vocans generationes ab exordio? Ego Dominus, primus et novissimus ego sum.
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 Viderunt insulae, et timuerunt, extrema terrae obstupuerunt, appropinquaverunt, et accesserunt.
The islands watch in fear, the distant lands tremble. They get together and consult.
6 Unusquisque proximo suo auxiliabitur, et fratri suo dicet: Confortare.
They all help each other, encouraging one another to “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; 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 Et tu Israel serve meus, Iacob quem elegi, semen Abraham amici mei:
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, the ones I have chosen, descendants of my friend Abraham,
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 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 Ne timeas, quia ego tecum sum: ne declines, quia ego Deus tuus: confortavi te, et auxiliatus sum tibi, et suscepit te dextera iusti mei.
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 Ecce confundentur et erubescent omnes, qui pugnant adversum te: erunt quasi non sint, et peribunt viri, qui contradicunt tibi.
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 Quaeres eos, et non invenies, viros rebelles tuos: erunt quasi non sint: et veluti consumptio homines bellantes adversum te.
Even though you look for your enemies, you won't find them. Those who attack you will become absolutely nothing.
13 Quia ego Dominus Deus tuus apprehendens manum tuam, dicensque tibi: Ne timeas, ego adiuvi te.
For I the Lord will grab you by the hand and tell you, “Don't be afraid! I myself will help you.
14 Noli timere vermis Iacob, qui mortui estis ex Israel: ego auxiliatus sum tibi, dicit Dominus: et redemptor tuus sanctus Israel.
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 Ego posui te quasi plaustrum triturans novum, habens rostra serrantia: triturabis montes, et comminues: et colles quasi pulverem pones.
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 Ventilabis eos, et ventus tollet, et turbo disperget eos: et tu exultabis in Domino, in sancto Israel laetaberis.
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 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 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 Aperiam in excelsis collibus flumina, et in medio camporum fontes: ponam desertum in stagna aquarum, et terram inviam in rivos aquarum.
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 Dabo in solitudinem cedrum, et spinam, et myrtum, et lignum olivae: ponam in deserto abietem, ulmum, et buxum simul:
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 Ut videant, et sciant, et recogitent, et intelligant pariter quia manus Domini fecit hoc, et sanctus Israel creavit illud.
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 Prope facite iudicium vestrum, dicit Dominus: afferte, siquid forte habetis, dicit rex Iacob.
“Now you submit your case,” says the Lord. “Present your evidence,” 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'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 Annunciate quae ventura sunt in futurum, et sciemus quia dii estis vos. bene quoque aut male, si potestis, facite: et loquamur, et videamus simul.
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 Ecce, vos estis ex nihilo, et opus vestrum ex eo, quod non est: abominatio est qui elegit vos.
But look at you! You're nothing, and you can't do anything! Anyone who chooses you is disgusting!
25 Suscitavi ab Aquilone, et veniet ab Ortu solis: vocabit nomen meum, et adducet magistratus quasi lutum, et velut plastes conculcans humum.
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 Quis annunciavit ab exordio ut sciamus: et a principio ut dicamus: Iustus es? non est neque annuncians, neque praedicens, neque audiens sermones vestros.
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 Primus ad Sion dicet: Ecce adsum, et Ierusalem evangelistam dabo.
I was the first to announce to Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ I was the one who brought to Jerusalem the good news.
28 Et vidi, et non erat neque ex istis quisquam qui iniret consilium, et interrogatus responderet verbum.
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 Ecce omnes iniusti, et vana opera eorum: ventus et inane simulachra eorum.
Look at them! They're all evil, deceptive things. They can't do anything! They're just idols full of hot air!”
