19. I will make trees grow in the desert.There will be cedars, acacia, myrtle and olive trees.I will put pine, fir and cypress treesgrowing together in the desert.
20. People will see these things and understand.Together they will think carefully about these things.They will know that the Lord’s power did this.They will know that the Holy One of Israel made these things.”
21. The Lord says, “Present your case.”The Lord, the King of Jacob, says, “Tell me your arguments.
22. Bring in your idols to tell uswhat is going to happen.Have them tell us what happened in the beginning.Then we will think about these things.Then we will know how they will turn out.Tell us what will happen in the future.
23. Tell us what is coming next.Then we will believe that you are gods.Do something, whether it is good or bad.Make us afraid of you.
24. You false gods are less than nothing.You can’t do anything.Those who worship you should be hated.”
25. “I have brought someone to come out of the north.I have called by name a man from the east, and he knows me.He walks on kings as if they were mud.He walks on them as a potter walks on the clay.
26. Who told us about this before it happened?Who told us ahead of time so we could say, ‘He was right’?None of you told us anything.None of you told us before it happened.No one heard you tell about it.
27. I, the Lord, was the first one to tell Jerusalem that the people were coming home.I sent a messenger to Jerusalem with the good news.
28. I look at the idols, but there is not one that can answer.None of them can give advice.None of them can answer my questions.
29. Look, all these idols are false gods.They cannot do anything.They are worth nothing.