Wednesday, September 27

“Be silent before me, you islands!

    Let the nations renew their strength!

Let them come forward and speak;

    let us meet together at the place of judgment.

2 

“Who has stirred up one from the east,

    calling him in righteousness to his service[a]?

He hands nations over to him

    and subdues kings before him.

He turns them to dust with his sword,

    to windblown chaff with his bow.

3 

He pursues them and moves on unscathed,

    by a path his feet have not traveled before.

4 

Who has done this and carried it through,

    calling forth the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord—with the first of them

    and with the last—I am he.”

5 

The islands have seen it and fear;

    the ends of the earth tremble.

They approach and come forward;

6 

    they help each other

    and say to their companions, “Be strong!”

7 

The metalworker encourages the goldsmith,

    and the one who smooths with the hammer

    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.

One says of the welding, “It is good.”

    The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.

8 

“But you, Israel, my servant,

    Jacob, whom I have chosen,

    you descendants of Abraham my friend,

9 

I took you from the ends of the earth,

    from its farthest corners I called you.

I said, ‘You are my servant’;

    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.

10 

So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 

“All who rage against you

    will surely be ashamed and disgraced;

those who oppose you

    will be as nothing and perish.

12 

Though you search for your enemies,

    you will not find them.

Those who wage war against you

    will be as nothing at all.

13 

For I am the Lord your God

    who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

    I will help you.