1. Keep silent before Me, O islands,and let the peoples renew their strength.Let them come near, then let them speak;let us come near together to judgment.
2. Who raised up the righteous man from the east,called him to His foot,gave the nations before him,and made him rule over kings?He makes them as the dust with his sword,and as driven stubble with his bow.
3. He pursued them, and passed safely,by paths his feet have not traveled.
4. Who has performed and done this,calling the generations from the beginning?I, the Lord, am the first,and with the last. I am He.
5. The coastlands saw it and feared,the ends of the earth were afraid;they drew near and came.
6. Every one helped his neighbor,and every one said to his brother, “Be of good courage.”
7. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith,and he who smooths metal with the hammerencourages him who strikes the anvil,saying, “It is ready for the soldering”;and he fastened it with nails so that it should not totter.
8. But you, Israel, are My servant,Jacob whom I have chosen,the seed of Abraham, My friend.
9. You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,and called from its remotest parts,and said to you, “You are My servant;I have chosen you and have not rejected you.”