The Tanakh · JPS 1917 Translation

Isaiah 41

Jewish Publication Society 1917 · Nevi'im — the Prophets

Isaiah chapter 41 — part of the Nevi'im — the Prophets in the Jewish Bible. In the classic JPS 1917 translation it opens: “Keep silence before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength; let them draw near, then let them speak; let us come near together…” — the complete text of all 29 verses is below, free to read online.

1Keep silence before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength; let them draw near, then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment.

2Who hath raised up one from the east, at whose steps victory attendeth? He giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; his sword maketh them as the dust, his bow as the driven stubble.

3He pursueth them, and passeth on safely; the way with his feet he treadeth not.

4Who hath wrought and done it? He that called the generations from the beginning. I, HaShem, who am the first, and with the last am the same.

5The isles saw, and feared; the ends of the earth trembled; they drew near, and came.

6They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother: 'Be of good courage.'

7So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering: 'It is good'; and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

8But thou, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My friend;

9Thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the uttermost parts thereof, and said unto thee: 'Thou art My servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away';

10Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy G-d; I strengthen thee, yea, I help thee; yea, I uphold thee with My victorious right hand.

11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded; they that strove with thee shall be as nothing, and shall perish.

12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee; they that warred against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

13For I HaShem thy G-d hold thy right hand, who say unto thee: 'Fear not, I help thee.'

14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I help thee, saith HaShem, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

15Behold, I make thee a new threshing-sledge having sharp teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

16Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in HaShem, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

17The poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I HaShem will answer them, I the G-d of Israel will not forsake them.

18I will open rivers on the high hills, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

19I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia-tree, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane-tree, and the larch together;

20That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of HaShem hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

21Produce your cause, saith HaShem; bring forth your reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

22Let them bring them forth, and declare unto us the things that shall happen; the former things, what are they? Declare ye, that we may consider, and know the end of them; or announce to us things to come.

23Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

24Behold, ye are nothing, and your work a thing of nought; an abomination is he that chooseth you.

25I have roused up one from the north, and he is come, from the rising of the sun one that calleth upon My name; and he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay.

26Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say that he is right? Yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that announceth, yea, there is none that heareth your utterances.

27A harbinger unto Zion will I give: 'Behold, behold them', and to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings.

28And I look, but there is no man; even among them, but there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can give an answer.

29Behold, all of them, their works are vanity and nought; their molten images are wind and confusion.

29 verses · JPS 1917 (public domain)

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