Isaiah 41:8-20

8‘But you, Israel, are my servant. Yes, I have chosen you, descendants of Jacob. You are descendants of my friend, Abraham.

9I led you back from the ends of the earth. I called you to come from places far away. I have said to you, “You are my servant. I have chosen you. I have not thrown you away.

10I am with you, so do not be afraid. I am your God, so do not be upset. I will make you strong and I will help you. My powerful right hand will keep you safe.”

11Listen to this! Everyone who has been angry with you will now become completely ashamed. Those who have attacked you will disappear and die.

12Even if you look for your enemies, you will not find them. They will all disappear!

13Yes, I am the Lord, your God. I will hold on to your right hand. I say to you, “Do not be afraid. I will help you.”

14Do not be afraid, you Israelites, descendants of Jacob. You may seem unimportant, like a worm, but I myself will help you.’ That is what the Lord says. He is your Redeemer, the Holy God of Israel.

15‘Look at this! I will cause you to destroy your enemies, like a heavy weight that threshes grain. You will have new sharp metal points that are like teeth. You will thresh the mountains and you will break them into pieces. You will make the hills become like straw.

16You will throw them into the air, and the wind will blow them away in all directions! You will be happy with what the Lord has done for you. You will boast that the Holy God of Israel is your God.

17Poor and helpless people look for water to drink, but there is none. They are so thirsty that their tongues are dry. But I, the Lord, will answer their prayers. I, the God of Israel, will not leave them alone.

18I will make rivers run over the dry hills. I will make springs of water in the valleys. I will make pools of water in the desert. The dry land will become a place of streams.

19Many trees will grow in the wilderness. Cedar, acacia, myrtle and olive trees will grow there. In the dry valleys there will be pine, fir and cypress trees.

20I will do this so that people see it happen. They will watch carefully and they will understand. They will know that the Lord's power has caused it to happen. They will know that the Holy God of Israel has created it.’