41 “Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea. The court is ready for your case. 2 “Who has stirred up this king from the east, With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind. 3 He chases them away and goes on safely, though he is walking over unfamiliar ground. 4 Who has done such mighty deeds, I alone am he.” 5 The lands beyond the sea watch in fear. Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war. 6 The idol makers encourage one another, saying to each other, “Be strong!” 7 The carver encourages the goldsmith, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over. 8 “But as for you, Israel my servant, descended from Abraham my friend, 9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth, and will not throw you away. 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 11 “See, all your angry enemies lie there, and come to nothing. 12 You will look in vain will come to nothing. 13 For I hold you by your right hand— ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you. 14 Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, I am the Holy One of Israel.’ 15 You will be a new threshing instrument making chaff of mountains. 16 You will toss them into the air, You will glory in the Holy One of Israel. 17 “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. 18 I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground. 19 I will plant trees in the barren desert— cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. 20 I am doing this so all who see this miracle the Holy One of Israel who created it. 21 “Present the case for your idols,” says the King of Israel. 22 “Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so we can know what’s going to happen. 23 Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Do something that will amaze and frighten us. 24 But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves. 25 “But I have stirred up a leader who will approach from the north. He will trample them as a potter treads on clay. 26 “Who told you from the beginning No one said a word! 27 I was the first to tell Zion, I will send Jerusalem a messenger with good news. 28 Not one of your idols told you this. Not one gave any answer when I asked. 29 See, they are all foolish, worthless things. All your idols are as empty as the wind.