Isaiah 42

Isaiah 42
The Lord's Chosen Servant

Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who
Pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring justice
To the nations. He will not shout or raise his voice in public
He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle
He will bring justice to all who have been wronged; he will not
Falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth
Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction

God the Lord created the heavens and stretched them out; he created

The earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to

Everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says, "I, the Lord
Have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take
You by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people
Israel as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be
A light to guide the nations; you will open the eyes of the blind
You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who
Sit in dark dungeons. I am the Lord. That is my name. I will
Not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved
Idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will
Prophesy again; I will tell you the future before it happens."

A Song of Praise to the Lord
Sing a new song to the Lord; sing his praises from the ends
Of the earth. Sing, all you who sail the seas, all you who
Live in distant coastlands. Join in the chorus, you desert
Towns; let the villages of Kedar rejoice. Let the people of
Sela sing for joy; shout praises from the mountaintops
Let the whole world glorify the Lord; let it sing his praise

The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like

A warrior full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all
His enemies. He will say, "I have long been silent; yes, I have
Restrained myself. But now, like a woman in labor, I will cry and
Groan and pant. I will level the mountains and hills and blight
All their greenery. I will turn the rivers into dry land and will
Dry up all the pools. I will lead blind Israel down a new path
Guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness
Before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed
Do these things; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in
Idols, who say, 'You are our gods,' will be turned away in shame."

Israel's Failure to Listen and See
Listen, you who are deaf; look and see, you blind. Who is as
Blind as my own people, my servant? Who is as deaf as my
Messenger? Who is as blind as my chosen people, the servants of
The Lord? You see and recognize what is right, but refuse to
Act on it. You hear with your ears, but you don't really listen
Because he is righteous, the Lord has exalted his glorious law

But his own people have been robbed and plundered, enslaved
Imprisoned, and trapped. They are fair game for anyone and
Have no one to protect them, no one to take them back home
Who will hear these lessons from the past and see the ruin that
Awaits you in the future? Who allowed Israel to be robbed and hurt?
It was the Lord, against whom we sinned. For the people would
Not walk in his path, nor would they obey his law. Therefore he
Poured out his fury on them and destroyed them in battle. They
Were enveloped in flames, but they still refused to understand
They were consumed by fire, but they did not learn their lesson