Isaiah 41:8-20

8But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham, my friend  —

9I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said to you: You are my servant; I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.

10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.

11Be sure that all who are enraged against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will become as nothing and will perish.

12You will look for those who contend with you, but you will not find them. Those who war against you will become absolutely nothing.

13For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.

14Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel. I will help you” — this is the Lord’s declaration. Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15See, I will make you into a sharp threshing board, new, with many teeth. You will thresh mountains and pulverize them and make hills into chaff.

16You will winnow them and a wind will carry them away, a whirlwind will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the Lord; you will boast in the Holy One of Israel.

17The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I will answer them. I am the Lord, the God of Israel. I will not abandon them.

18I will open rivers on the barren heights, and springs in the middle of the plains. I will turn the desert into a pool and dry land into springs.

19I will plant cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees in the wilderness. I will put juniper, elm, and cypress trees together in the desert,

20so that all may see and know, consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.