Isaiah 41:1-14

1“Listen to me in silence, you coastlands! Let the nations find renewed strength! Let them approach and then speak; let us come together for debate!

2Who stirs up this one from the east? Who officially commissions him for service? He hands nations over to him, and enables him to subdue kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, like windblown straw with his bow.

3He pursues them and passes by unharmed; he advances with great speed.

4Who acts and carries out decrees? Who summons the successive generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, am present at the very beginning, and at the very end – I am the one.

5The coastlands see and are afraid; the whole earth trembles; they approach and come.

6They help one another; one says to the other, ‘Be strong!’

7The craftsman encourages the metalsmith, the one who wields the hammer encourages the one who pounds on the anvil. He approves the quality of the welding, and nails it down so it won’t fall over.”

8“You, my servant Israel, Jacob whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham my friend,

9you whom I am bringing back from the earth’s extremities, and have summoned from the remote regions – I told you, “You are my servant.” I have chosen you and not rejected you.

10Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!

11Look, all who were angry at you will be ashamed and humiliated; your adversaries will be reduced to nothing and perish.

12When you will look for your opponents, you will not find them; your enemies will be reduced to absolutely nothing.

13For I am the Lord your God, the one who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am helping you.’

14Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, men of Israel. I am helping you,” says the Lord, your protector, the Holy One of Israel.