The Lord Challenges the Idols

Isaiah 41

The Lord summons the nations and their idols to a trial to declare what is to come, contrasting their helplessness with his own work in raising up a deliverer from the east. He reassures Jacob and Israel, his chosen servant, of his help and describes the desert transformed into watered, fruitful land.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonDEDICATE yourselves to Me, O Islands, for the Archons will gather new strength. Let them draw near and confer together, then let them announce judgment.

BrentonHold a feast to me, ye islands: for the princes shall renew their strength: let them draw nigh and speak together: then let them declare judgment.

GreekἘγκαινίζεσθε πρὸς μὲ νῆσοι, οἱ γὰρ ἄρχοντες ἀλλάξουσιν ἰσχύν· ἐγγισάτωσαν καὶ λαλησάτωσαν ἅμα, τότε κρίσιν ἀναγγειλάτωσαν.

KJVKeep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.

JPSKeep 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.

ThomsonWho raised up righteousness from the East—called upon it to attend His steps? when He marcheth on, He will exhibit it before nations and confound kings and dash their swords to the ground, and their bows shall be driven away like stubble.

BrentonWho raised up righteousness from the east, and called it to his feet, so that it should go? shall appoint it an adversary of Gentiles, and shall dismay kings, and bury their swords in the earth, and cast forth their bows and arrows as sticks?

GreekΤίς ἐξήγειρεν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν δικαιοσύνην, ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὴν κατὰ πόδας αὐτοῦ, καὶ πορεύσεται; δώσει ἐναντίον ἐθνῶν, καὶ βασιλεῖς ἐκστήσει· καὶ δώσει εἰς γῆν τὰς μαχαίρας αὐτῶν, καὶ ὡς φρύγανα ἐξωσμένα τὰ τόξα αὐτῶν.

KJVWho 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 gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.

JPS—

ThomsonWhen He pursueth them, the road for His feet shall pass through to peace.

BrentonAnd he shall pursue them; the way of his feet shall proceed in peace.

GreekΚαὶ διώξεται αὐτοὺς, διελεύσεται ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἡ ὁδὸς τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ.

KJVHe pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.

JPSHe pursueth them, and passeth on safely; The way with his feet he treadeth not.

ThomsonWho hath performed and done these things? He who called that righteousness—who from the generations of the beginning is calling it—I, God, the First, and to the succeeding ages, the I AM.

BrentonWho has wrought and done these things? he has called it who called it from the generations of old; I God, the first and to all futurity, I AM.

GreekΤίς ἐνήργησε, καὶ ἐποίησε ταῦτα; ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὴν ὁ καλῶν αὐτὴν ἀπὸ γενεῶν ἀρχῆς· ἐγὼ Θεὸς πρῶτος, καὶ εἰς τὰ ἐπερχόμενα ἐγώ εἰμι.

KJVWho hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.

JPSWho hath wrought and done it? He that called the generations from the beginning. I, the LORD, who am the first, And with the last am the same.

ThomsonThe nations saw and were affrighted; the ends of the earth drew near and came together.

BrentonThe nations saw, and feared; the ends of the earth drew nigh, and came together,

GreekΕἴδοσαν ἔθνη καὶ ἐφοβηθήσαν, τὰ ἄκρα τῆς γῆς ἤγγισαν, καὶ ἦλθον ἅμα,

KJVThe isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.

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

ThomsonEvery one is determining to help his neighbour and his brother, and one will say,

Brentonevery one judging for his neighbour and that to assist his brother: and one will say,

Greekκρίνων ἕκαστος τῷ πλησίον, καὶ τῷ ἀδελφῷ βοηθῆσαι·

KJVThey helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.

JPSThey helped every one his neighbour; And every one said to his brother: ‘Be of good courage.’

Thomson—

BrentonThe artificer has become strong, and the coppersmith that smites with the hammer, and forges also: sometimes he will say, It is a piece well joined: they have fastened them with nails; they will fix them, and they shall not be moved.

Greekκαὶ ἐρεῖ, ἴσχυσεν ἀνὴρ τέκτων, καὶ χαλκεὺς τύπτων σφύρῃ, ἅμα ἐλαύνων· πότε μὲν ἐρεῖ, σύμβλημα καλόν ἐστιν, ἰσχύρωσαν αὐτὰ ἐν ἥλοις, θήσουσιν αὐτὰ, καὶ οὐ κινηθήσονται.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThese things they made strong with nails; they will fix them up that they may not be moved: but thou Israel My servant; thou Jacob, whom I have chosen; thou seed of Abraham whom I loved!

BrentonBut thou, Israel, art my servant Jacob, and he whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraam, whom I have loved:

GreekΣὺ δὲ, Ἰσραὴλ παῖς μου Ἰακὼβ, καὶ ὃν ἐξελεξάμην, σπέρμα Ἁβραὰμ, ὃν ἠγάπησα·

KJVBut thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

JPSBut thou, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The seed of Abraham My friend;

Thomsonhave I not taken thee from the ends of the earth, and from the speculations thereof called thee, and said to thee, Thou art My servant I have chosen thee and have not forsaken thee.

Brentonwhom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and from the high places of it I have called thee, and said to thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and I have not forsaken thee.

GreekΟὗ ἀντελαβόμην ἀπʼ ἄκρων τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἐκ τῶν σκοπιῶν αὐτῆς ἐκάλεσά σε, καὶ εἶπά σοι, παῖς μου εἶ, ἐξελεξάμην σε, καὶ οὐκ ἐγκατέλιπόν σε.

KJVThou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

JPSThou 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’;

ThomsonFear not, for I am with thee; be not led astray, for I am thy God. I have strengthened thee and helped thee, and secured thee with My just right hand.

BrentonFear not; for I am with thee: wander not; for I am thy God, who have strengthened thee; and I have helped thee, and have established thee with my just right hand.

GreekΜὴ φοβοῦ, μετὰ σοῦ γάρ εἰμι, μὴ πλανῶ· ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι ὁ Θεός σου, ὁ ἐνισχύσας σε, καὶ ἐβοήθησά σοι, καὶ ἠσφαλισάμην σε τῇ δεξιᾷ τῇ δικαίᾳ μου.

KJVFear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

JPSFear thou not, for I am with thee, Be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I strengthen thee, yea, I help thee; Yea, I uphold thee with My victorious right hand.

ThomsonBehold all thine adversaries shall be ashamed and confounded; for they shall be as nothing and all thine opponents shall be destroyed.

BrentonBehold, all thine adversaries shall be ashamed and confounded; for they shall be as if they were not: and all thine opponents shall perish.

GreekἸδοὺ αἰσχυνθήσονται καὶ ἐντραπήσονται πάντες οἱ ἀντικείμενοί σοι· ἔσονται γὰρ ὡς οὐκ ὄντες, καὶ ἀπολοῦνται πάντες οἱ ἀντίδικοί σου.

KJVBehold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

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

ThomsonThou mayst seek but thou shalt not find the men, who through drunkenness will dare to insult thee. For they shall be as mere nothing: and they who war against thee shall be no more.

BrentonThou shalt seek them, and thou shalt not find the men who shall insolently rage against thee: for they shall be as if they were not, and they that war against thee shall not be.

GreekΖητήσεις αὐτοὺς, καὶ οὐ μὴ εὕρῃς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους οἳ παροινήσουσιν εἰς σέ· ἔσονται γὰρ ὡς οὐκ ὄντες, καὶ οὐκ ἔσονται οἱ ἀντιπολεμοῦντές σε·

KJVThou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

JPSThou 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.

ThomsonFor I am thy God, Who have hold of thy right hand, and Who say to thee,

BrentonFor I am thy God, who holdeth thy right hand, who saith to thee,

GreekὍτι ἐγὼ ὁ Θεός σου, ὁ κρατῶν τῆς δεξιᾶς σου, ὁ λέγων σοι,

KJVFor I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

JPSFor I the LORD thy God Hold thy right hand, Who say unto thee: ‘Fear not, I help thee.’

ThomsonFear not, O Jacob, O diminutive Israel! I have helped thee, saith thy God, Who redeemeth thee, O Israel.

BrentonFear not, Jacob, and thou Israel few in number; I have helped thee, saith thy God, he that redeems thee, O Israel.

Greekμὴ φοβοῦ Ἰακὼβ ὀλιγοστὸς Ἰσραὴλ· ἐγὼ ἐβοήθησά σοι, λέγει ὁ Θεὸς σου, ὁ λυτρούμενὸσσε Ἰσραήλ.

KJVFear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

JPSFear not, thou worm Jacob, And ye men of Israel; I help thee, saith the LORD, And thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

ThomsonBehold I have made thee like the wheels of a wain bruising to pieces a brood of pigeons:

BrentonBehold, I have made thee as new saw-shaped threshing wheels of a waggon; and thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat the hills to powder, and make them as chaff:

GreekἸδοὺ ἐποίησά σε ὡς τροχοὺς ἁμάξης ἀλοῶντας καινοὺς πριστηροειδεῖς, καὶ ἀλοήσεις ὄρη, καὶ λεπτυνεῖς βουνοὺς, καὶ ὡς χνοῦν θήσεις,

KJVBehold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

JPSBehold, 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.

Thomsonthou indeed shalt grind mountains and reduce hills to small pieces, and make them like dust: and thou shalt winnow them; and a wind shall take them up, and a whirlwind shall sweep them away; but thou shalt be gladdened in the sanctuaries of Israel;

Brentonand thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and a tempest shall scatter them: but thou shalt rejoice in the holy ones of Israel.

Greekκαὶ λικήσεις, καὶ ἄνεμος λήμψεται αὐτοὺς, καὶ καταιγὶς διασπερεῖ αὐτούς· σὺ δὲ εὐφρανθήσῃ ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις Ἰσραήλ.

KJVThou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

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

Thomsonand the poor and the needy shall exult with joy: for when they shall seek water and there shall be none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I the Lord their God, I the God of Israel will hear and will not forsake them;

BrentonAnd the poor and the needy shall exult; for when they shall seek water, and there shall be none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord God, I the God of Israel will hear, and will not forsake them:

GreekΚαὶ ἀγαλλιάσονται οἱ πτωχοὶ καὶ οἱ ἐνδεεῖς· ζητήσουσι γὰρ ὕδωρ, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται, ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τῆς δίψης ἐξηράνθη· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς, ἐγὼ ἐπακούσομαι ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψω αὐτοὺς,

KJVWhen the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

JPSThe poor and needy seek water and there is none, And their tongue faileth for thirst; I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Thomsonbut will open rivers on the mountains, and fountains in the midst of plains: I will turn the wilderness into watery fens, and with streams refresh the thirsty ground.

Brentonbut I will open rivers on the mountains, and fountains in the midst of plains: I will make the desert pools of water, and a thirsty land watercourses.

Greekἀλλὰ ἀνοίξω ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων ποταμοὺς, καὶ ἐν μέσῳ πεδίων πηγάς· ποιήσω τὴν ἔρημον εἰς ἕλη ὑδάτων, καὶ τὴν διψῶσαν γῆν ἐν ὑδραγωγοῖς.

KJVI will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

JPSI 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.

ThomsonAnd I will plant in the dry wilderness the cedar and box, the myrtle and cypress and elm:

BrentonI will plant in the dry land the cedar and box, the myrtle and cypress, and white poplar:

GreekΘήσω εἰς τὴν ἄνυδρον γῆν, κέδρον καὶ πύξον, μυρσίνην καὶ κυπάρισσον, καὶ λεύκην·

KJVI will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

JPSI 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;

Thomsonthat they may see and know, and consider and understand at once that the hand of the Lord hath done these things; even what the Holy One of Israel hath pointed out.

Brentonthat they may see, and know, and perceive, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has wrought these works, and the Holy One of Israel has displayed them.

GreekἽνα ἴδωσι καὶ γνῶσι, καὶ ἐννοηθῶσι καὶ ἐπιστῶνται ἅμα, ὅτι χεὶρ Κυρίου ἐποίησε ταῦτα, καὶ ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ κατέδειξεν.

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

JPSThat they may see, and know, And consider, and understand together, That the hand of the LORD hath done this, And the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

ThomsonThe trial of you is near, saith the Lord God. Your councils are nigh at hand, saith the King of Jacob;

BrentonYour judgment draws nigh, saith the Lord God; your counsels have drawn nigh, saith the King of Jacob.

GreekἘγγίζει ἡ κρίσις ὑμῶν, λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεός· ἤγγισαν αἱ βουλαὶ ὑμῶν, λέγει ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰακώβ.

KJVProduce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

JPSProduce your cause, saith the LORD; Bring forth your reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

Thomsonlet them draw near and tell you what will happen, or such things as these before they come to pass.

BrentonLet them draw nigh, and declare to you what things shall come to pass; or tell us what things were of old, and we will apply our understanding, and we shall know what are the last and the future things:

GreekἘγγισάτωσαν, καὶ ἀναγγειλάτωσαν ὑμῖν ἃ συμβήσεται, ἢ τὰ πρότερον τίνα ἦν, εἴπατε, καὶ ἐπιστήσομεν τὸν νοῦν, καὶ γνωσόμεθα τί τὰ ἔσχατα καὶ τὰ ἐπερχόμενα·

KJVLet them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

JPSLet 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.

Thomson—

Brentontell us, declare ye to us the things that are coming on at the last time, and we shall know that ye are gods: do good, and do evil, and we shall wonder, and see at the same time

Greekεἴπατε ἡμῖν, ἀναγγείλατε ἡμῖν τὰ ἐπερχόμενα ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου, καὶ γνωσόμεθα ὅτι θεοί ἐστε· εὐποιήσατε καὶ κακώσατε, καὶ θαυμασόμεθα, καὶ ὀψόμεθα ἅμα

KJVShew 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.

JPSDeclare 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.

Thomson—

Brentonwhence ye are, and whence is your work: they have chosen you an abomination out of the earth.

Greekὅτι πόθεν ἐστὲ ὑμεῖς, καὶ πόθεν ἡ ἐργασία ὑμῶν· ἐκ γῆς βδέλυγμα ἐξελέξαντο ὑμᾶς.

KJVBehold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

JPSBehold, ye are nothing, And your work a thing of nought; An abomination is he that chooseth you.

ThomsonThey have chosen you, an abomination from the earth; but I have raised up that one from the north, and that other from the risings of the sun; they shall be called by My name. Let the princes come, and as the clay of the potter—even as a potter treadeth clay, so shall you be trampled down.

BrentonBut I have raised up him that comes from the north, and him that comes from the rising of the sun: they shall be called by my name: let the princes come, and as potter's clay, and as a potter treading clay, so shall ye be trodden down.

GreekἘγὼ δὲ ἤγειρα τὸν ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ τὸν ἀφʼ ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν· κληθήσονται τῷ ὀνόματί μου· ἐρχέσθωσαν ἄρχοντες, καὶ ὡς πηλὸς κεραμέως, καὶ ὡς κεραμεὺς καταπατῶν τὸν πηλὸν, οὕτω καταπατηθήσεσθε.

KJVI have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

JPSI 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.

ThomsonWho now can tell these things from the beginning, that we may know, even these things before hand: that we may say, The prediction is true. There is none who predicteth, nor doth anyone hear your words.

BrentonFor who will declare the things from the beginning, that we may know also the former things, and we will say that they are true? there is no one that speaks beforehand, nor any one that hears your words.

GreekΤίς γὰρ ἀναγγελεῖ τὰ ἐξ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα γνῶμεν καὶ τὰ ἔμπροσθεν, καἰ ἐροῦμεν ὅτι ἀληθῆ ἐστιν; οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ προλέγων, οὐδὲ ὁ ἀκούων ὑμῶν τοὺς λόγους.

KJVWho hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.

JPSWho 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.

ThomsonI will first give notice to Sion and I will comfort Jerusalem on the way.

BrentonI will give dominion to Sion, and will comfort Jerusalem by the way.

GreekἈρχὴν Σιὼν δώσω, καὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ παρακαλέσω εἰς ὁδόν.

KJVThe first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.

JPSA harbinger unto Zion will I give: ‘Behold, behold them’, And to Jerusalem a messenger of good tidings.

ThomsonFor of the nations behold, there is none, and of the idols none giveth warning. And should I ask them, Whence are you?

BrentonFor from among the nations, behold, there was no one; and of their idols there was none to declare anything: and if I should ask them, Whence are ye? they could not answer me.

GreekἈπὸ γὰρ τῶν ἐθνῶν, ἰδοὺ οὐδείς· καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων αὐτῶν οὐκ ἦν ὁ ἀναγγέλλων· καὶ ἐὰν ἐρωτήσω αὐτοὺς, πόθεν ἐστέ; οὐ μὴ ἀποκριθῶσί μοι.

KJVFor I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

JPSAnd 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.

Thomson—

BrentonFor these are your makers, as ye think, and they that cause you to err in vain.

GreekΕἰσὶ γὰρ οἱ ποιοῦντες ὑμᾶς, καὶ μάτην οἱ πλανῶντες ὑμᾶς.

KJV—

JPS—