Isaiah 41:21-29

21“1Present your case,” the Lord says. “Bring forward your strong arguments,” The 2King of Jacob says.223Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the 4former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming;235Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, 6do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.24Behold, 7you are of 8no account, And 9your work amounts to nothing; He who chooses you is an 10abomination.

25“I have aroused 11one from the north, and he has come; From the rising of the sun he will call on My name; And he will come upon rulers as upon 12mortar, Even as the potter treads clay.”26Who has 13declared this from the beginning, that we might know? Or from former times, that we may say, “He is right!”? Surely there was 14no one who declared, Surely there was no one who proclaimed, Surely there was no one who heard your words.27“15Formerly I said to Zion, ‘Behold, here they are.’ And to Jerusalem, ‘I will give a 16messenger of good news.’28But 17when I look, there is no one, And there is no 18counselor 19among them Who, if I ask, can 20give an answer.29Behold, all of them are 21false; Their 22works are 23worthless, Their molten images are 24wind and emptiness.