14. Don’t fear, worm of Jacob,people of Israel!I will help you, says the Lord.The holy one of Israel is your redeemer.
15. Look, I’ve made youinto a new threshing tool with sharp teeth.You will thresh mountains and pulverize them;you will reduce hills to straw.
16. When you winnow them,the wind will carry them off;the tempest will scatter them.You will rejoice in the Lordand take pride in the holy one of Israel.
17. The poor and the needy seek water, and there is none;their tongues are parched with thirst.I, the Lord, will respond to them;I, the God of Israel, won’t abandon them.
18. I will open streams on treeless hilltopsand springs in valleys.I will make the desert into pondsand dry land into cascades of water.
19. I will plant in the desert cedar, acacia, myrtle, and olive trees;I will put in the wilderness cypress, elm, and pine as well,
20. so that they will see and knowand observe and comprehendthat the Lord’s hand has done this,and the holy one of Israel has created it.
21. Present your case, says the Lord.Bring forward your evidence, says Jacob’s king.
22. Let the idols approachand tell us what will happen.The prior things—what are they?Announce them, and we’ll think about themand know their significance.Or proclaim to us what is to come!
23. Report things that will happen in the future,then we’ll know that you are gods.Do good! Or do bad!Then we will all be afraid and fearful.