17. “When my people in their need look for water,when their throats are dry with thirst,then I, the Lord, will answer their prayer;I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.
18. I will make rivers flow among barren hillsand springs of water run in the valleys.I will turn the desert into pools of waterand the dry land into flowing springs.
19. I will make cedars grow in the desert,and acacias and myrtles and olive trees.Forests will grow in barren land,forests of pine and juniper and cypress.
20. People will see this and knowthat I, the Lord, have done it.They will come to understandthat Israel's holy God has made it happen.”
21. The Lord, the king of Israel, has this to say:“You gods of the nations, present your case.Bring the best arguments you have!
22. Come here and predict what will happen,so that we will know it when it takes place.Explain to the court the events of the past,and tell us what they mean.
23. Tell us what the future holds —then we will know that you are gods!Do something good or bring some disaster;fill us with fear and awe!
24. You and all you do are nothing;those who worship you are disgusting!
25. “I have chosen a man who lives in the east;I will bring him to attack from the north.He tramples on rulers as if they were mud,like a potter trampling clay.
26. Which of you predicted that this would happen,so that we could say that you were right?None of you said a word about it;no one heard you say a thing!
27. I, the Lord, was the first to tell Zion the news;I sent a messenger to Jerusalem to say,‘Your people are coming! They are coming home!’
28. When I looked among the gods,none of them had a thing to say;not one could answer the questions I asked.
29. All these gods are useless;they can do nothing at all —these idols are weak and powerless.”