Isaiah 42

1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.footnote afootnote b

4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.footnote c

5Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

6I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

9Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

10Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.footnote d

11Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

12Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

13The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.footnote e

14I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.footnote f

15I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

16And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.footnote g

17They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

18Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

19Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’s servant?

20Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.footnote h

22But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.footnote ifootnote j

23Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?footnote k

24Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

25Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.

Here Is My Servant

1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold,My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights.I will put My Spirit on Him,and He will bring justice to the nations. 2He will not cry out or raise His voice,nor make His voice heard in the streets. 3A bruised reed He will not breakand a smoldering wick He will not extinguish;He will faithfully bring forth justice. 4He will not grow weak or discouragedfootnote abefore He has established justice on the earth.In His law the islands will put their hope.”footnote b

5This is what God the LORD says—He who created the heavensand stretched them out,who spread out the earth and its offspring,who gives breath to the people on itand life to those who walk in it:

6“I, the LORD, have called youfor a righteous purpose,and I will take hold of your hand.I will keep you and appoint youto be a covenant for the peopleand a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes of the blind,to bring prisoners out of the dungeonand those sitting in darknessout from the prison house.

8I am the LORD;that is My name!I will not yield My glory to anotheror My praise to idols. 9Behold, the former things have happened,and now I declare new things.Before they spring forthI proclaim them to you.”

A New Song of Praise

10Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,you islands,footnote cand all who dwell in them. 11Let the desert and its cities raise their voices;let the villages of Kedar cry aloud.Let the people of Sela sing for joy;let them cry out from the mountaintops. 12Let them give glory to the LORDand declare His praise in the islands. 13The LORD goes forth like a mighty one;He stirs up His zeal like a warrior.He shouts; yes, He roarsin triumph over His enemies:

14“I have kept silent from ages past;I have remained quiet and restrained.But now I will groan like a woman in labor;I will at once gasp and pant. 15I will lay waste the mountains and hillsand dry up all their vegetation.I will turn the rivers into dry landfootnote dand drain the marshes. 16I will lead the blind by a way they did not know;I will guide them on unfamiliar paths.I will turn darkness into light before themand rough places into level ground.These things I will do for them,and I will not forsake them. 17But those who trust in idolsand say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’will be turned back in utter shame.

Israel Is Deaf and Blind

18Listen, you deaf ones;look, you blind ones, that you may see! 19Who is blind but My servant,or deaf like the messenger I am sending?Who is blind like My covenant partner,or blind like the servant of the LORD? 20Though seeing many things, you do not keep watch.Though your ears are open, you do not hear.”

21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness,to magnify His law and make it glorious. 22But this is a people plundered and looted,all trapped in caves or imprisoned in dungeons.They have become plunder with no one to rescue them,and loot with no one to say, “Send them back!” 23Who among you will pay attention to this?Who will listen and obey hereafter? 24Who gave Jacob up for spoil,and Israel to the plunderers?Was it not the LORD,against whom we have sinned?They were unwilling to walk in His ways,and they would not obey His law. 25So He poured out on them His furious angerand the fierceness of battle.It enveloped them in flames,but they did not understand;it consumed them,but they did not take it to heart.