7. The carpenter says to the goldsmith, ‘Well done!’The man who beats the idol smoothencourages the one who nails it together.They say, ‘The soldering is good’ —and they fasten the idol in place with nails.
8. “But you, Israel my servant,you are the people that I have chosen,the descendants of Abraham, my friend.
9. I brought you from the ends of the earth;I called you from its farthest cornersand said to you, ‘You are my servant.’I did not reject you, but chose you.
10. Do not be afraid — I am with you!I am your God — let nothing terrify you!I will make you strong and help you;I will protect you and save you.
11. “Those who are angry with youwill know the shame of defeat.Those who fight against you will die
12. and will disappear from the earth.
13. I am the Lord your God;I strengthen you and say,‘Do not be afraid; I will help you.’ ”
14. The Lord says,“Small and weak as you are, Israel,don't be afraid; I will help you.I, the holy God of Israel, am the one who saves you.
15. I will make you like a threshing board,with spikes that are new and sharp.You will thresh mountains and destroy them;hills will crumble into dust.
16. You will toss them in the air;the wind will carry them off,and they will be scattered by the storm.Then you will be happy because I am your God;you will praise me, the holy God of Israel.
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.