God’s Help to Israel

1  הַחֲרִ֤ישׁוּ (Be silent) אֵלַי֙ (before Me) אִיִּ֔ים (O islands);

וּלְאֻמִּ֖ים (and the peoples) יַחֲלִ֣יפוּ (will renew) כֹ֑חַ (their strength);

יִגְּשׁוּ֙ (let them draw near); אָ֣ז (then) יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ (let them speak);

יַחְדָּ֖ו (together) לַמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט (for judgment) נִקְרָֽבָה׃ (let us come near).

2  מִ֤י (Who) הֵעִיר֙ (has roused) מִמִּזְרָ֔ח (one from the east),

צֶ֖דֶק (righteousness) יִקְרָאֵ֣הוּ (calls him) לְרַגְל֑וֹ (at His feet),

יִתֵּ֨ן (He gives) לְפָנָ֤יו (before his face) גּוֹיִם֙ (the nations)

וּמְלָכִ֣ים (and kings)? יַ֔רְדְּ (And he subdues)

יִתֵּ֤ן (he makes them) כֶּֽעָפָר֙ (as the dust) חַרְבּ֔וֹ (to his sword),

כְּקַ֥שׁ (as stubble) נִדָּ֖ף (driven away) קַשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (by his bow).

3  יִרְדְּפֵ֖ם (He pursues them) יַעֲב֣וֹר (passing over) שָׁל֑וֹם (in peace);

אֹ֥רַח (a path) בְּרַגְלָ֖יו (with his feet) לֹ֥א (not) יָבֽוֹא׃ (he enters).

4  מִֽי־ (Who) פָעַ֣ל (has worked) וְעָשָׂ֔ה (and accomplished)

קֹרֵ֥א (the One calling) הַדֹּר֖וֹת (the generations) מֵרֹ֑אשׁ (from the beginning)?

אֲנִ֤י (I am) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH), רִאשׁ֔וֹן (the first), וְאֶת־ (and) אַחֲרֹנִ֖ים (the last);

אֲנִי־ (I am) הֽוּא׃ (He).

5  רָא֤וּ (Have seen it) אִיִּים֙ (The islands) וְיִירָ֔אוּ (and feared);

קְצ֥וֹת (the ends) הָאָ֖רֶץ (of the earth) יֶחֱרָ֑דוּ (tremble),

קָרְב֖וּ (They approach), וַיֶּאֱתָיֽוּן׃ (and come forward).

6  אִ֥ישׁ (Each man) אֶת־ (-) רֵעֵ֖הוּ (his neighbor); יַעְזֹ֑רוּ (helps)

וּלְאָחִ֖יו (and to his brother), יֹאמַ֥ר (says) חֲזָֽק׃ (Be strong).

7  וַיְחַזֵּ֤ק (And strengthens) חָרָשׁ֙ (the craftsman) אֶת־ (-) צֹרֵ֔ף (the goldsmith),

מַחֲלִ֥יק (the one smoothing) פַּטִּ֖ישׁ (with the hammer) אֶת־ (-)

ה֣וֹלֶם (the one striking) פָּ֑עַם (the anvil),

אֹמֵ֤ר (saying), לַדֶּ֙בֶק֙ (of the joining), ט֣וֹב (Good) ה֔וּא (it is)

וַיְחַזְּקֵ֥הוּ (and he strengthens it) בְמַסְמְרִ֖ים (with nails), לֹ֥א (and not) יִמּֽוֹט׃ס (it will be toppled).

8  וְאַתָּה֙ (And you), יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל (O Israel), עַבְדִּ֔י (My servant),

יַעֲקֹ֖ב (Jacob) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (whom) בְּחַרְתִּ֑יךָ (I have chosen),

זֶ֖רַע (seed) אַבְרָהָ֥ם (of Abraham) אֹהֲבִֽי׃ (My friend).

9  אֲשֶׁ֤ר (Whom) הֶחֱזַקְתִּ֙יךָ֙ (I have taken) מִקְצ֣וֹת (from the ends) הָאָ֔רֶץ (of the earth),

וּמֵאֲצִילֶ֖יהָ (and from its corners) קְרָאתִ֑יךָ (I called you)

וָאֹ֤מַר (and said) לְךָ֙ (to you) עַבְדִּי־ (My servant); אַ֔תָּה (you are)

בְּחַרְתִּ֖יךָ (I have chosen you) וְלֹ֥א (and not) מְאַסְתִּֽיךָ׃ (rejected you).

10  אַל־ (Do not); תִּירָא֙ (be afraid) כִּ֣י (for) עִמְּךָ־ (with you) אָ֔נִי (I am)

אַל־ (do not) תִּשְׁתָּ֖ע (look around), כִּֽי־ (for) אֲנִ֣י (I am) אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ (your God).

אִמַּצְתִּ֙יךָ֙ (I have strengthened you) אַף־ (indeed), עֲזַרְתִּ֔יךָ (I have helped you)

אַף־ (yes), תְּמַכְתִּ֖יךָ (have I taken hold of you) בִּימִ֥ין (with the right hand) צִדְקִֽי׃ (of My righteousness).

11  הֵ֤ן (Behold), יֵבֹ֙שׁוּ֙ (they will be ashamed) וְיִכָּ֣לְמ֔וּ (and disgraced); כֹּ֖ל (all)

הַנֶּחֱרִ֣ים (those burning) בָּ֑ךְ (against you)

יִֽהְי֥וּ (they will be) כְאַ֛יִן (as nothing);

וְיֹאבְד֖וּ (will perish) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (and the men) רִיבֶֽךָ׃ (of your dispute).

12  תְּבַקְשֵׁם֙ (You will seek them) וְלֹ֣א (and will not) תִמְצָאֵ֔ם (find them)

אַנְשֵׁ֖י (the men), מַצֻּתֶ֑ךָ (of your dispute) יִהְי֥וּ (will be) כְאַ֛יִן (as nothing),

וּכְאֶ֖פֶס (as nothing at all) אַנְשֵׁ֥י (the men) מִלְחַמְתֶּֽךָ׃ (of your warfare).

13  כִּ֗י (For) אֲנִ֛י (I am) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ (your God)

מַחֲזִ֣יק (taking hold) יְמִינֶ֑ךָ (of your right hand),

הָאֹמֵ֥ר (saying) לְךָ֛ (to you) אַל־ (not); תִּירָ֖א (do fear)

אֲנִ֥י (I) עֲזַרְתִּֽיךָ׃ס (have helped you).

14  אַל־ (Not), תִּֽירְאִי֙ (will you fear) תּוֹלַ֣עַת (O worm) יַֽעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob),

מְתֵ֖י (O men) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel);

אֲנִ֤י (I) עֲזַרְתִּיךְ֙ (have helped you) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH),

וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ (and your Redeemer is), קְד֥וֹשׁ (the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (of Israel).

15  הִנֵּ֣ה (Behold), שַׂמְתִּ֗יךְ (I am making you) לְמוֹרַג֙ (into a threshing sledge)

חָר֣וּץ (sharp) חָדָ֔שׁ (new) בַּ֖עַל (an owner) פִּֽיפִיּ֑וֹת (of teeth);

תָּד֤וּשׁ (and you will thresh) הָרִים֙ (the mountains), וְתָדֹ֔ק (and crush them),

וּגְבָע֖וֹת (and the hills) כַּמֹּ֥ץ (like chaff) תָּשִֽׂים׃ (you will make).

16  תִּזְרֵם֙ (You will winnow them) וְר֣וּחַ (and the wind) תִּשָּׂאֵ֔ם (will carry them away),

וּסְעָרָ֖ה (and the tempest) תָּפִ֣יץ (will scatter) אוֹתָ֑ם (them)

וְאַתָּה֙ (and you) תָּגִ֣יל (will rejoice) בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (in YHWH),

בִּקְד֥וֹשׁ (in the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) תִּתְהַלָּֽל׃פ (you will glory).

17  הָעֲנִיִּ֨ים (The poor) וְהָאֶבְיוֹנִ֜ים (and the needy) מְבַקְשִׁ֥ים (seek) מַ֙יִם֙ (water), וָאַ֔יִן (and there is none),

לְשׁוֹנָ֖ם (their tongues) בַּצָּמָ֣א (with thirst), נָשָׁ֑תָּה (are dry)

אֲנִ֤י (I) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) אֶעֱנֵ֔ם (will answer them)

אֱלֹהֵ֥י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) לֹ֥א (not) אֶעֶזְבֵֽם׃ (will I forsake them).

18  אֶפְתַּ֤ח (I will open) עַל־ (on) שְׁפָיִים֙ (the barren heights), נְהָר֔וֹת (rivers)

וּבְת֥וֹךְ (and in the middle) בְּקָע֖וֹת (of the valleys); מַעְיָנ֑וֹת (fountains)

אָשִׂ֤ים (I will make) מִדְבָּר֙ (the desert) לַאֲגַם־ (into a pool) מַ֔יִם (of water),

וְאֶ֥רֶץ (and the land) צִיָּ֖ה (dry) לְמוֹצָ֥אֵי (into flowing springs) מָֽיִם׃ (of water).

19  אֶתֵּ֤ן (I will plant) בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ (in the wilderness) אֶ֣רֶז (the cedar),

שִׁטָּ֔ה (and the acacia), וַהֲדַ֖ס (and the myrtle), וְעֵ֣ץ (and the tree); שָׁ֑מֶן (olive)

אָשִׂ֣ים (I will place) בָּעֲרָבָ֗ה (in the desert plain) בְּר֛וֹשׁ (the cypress),

תִּדְהָ֥ר (elm), וּתְאַשּׁ֖וּר (and boxwood) יַחְדָּֽו׃ (together);

20  לְמַ֧עַן (that) יִרְא֣וּ (they may see), וְיֵדְע֗וּ (and know),

וְיָשִׂ֤ימוּ (and consider), וְיַשְׂכִּ֙ילוּ֙ (and understand) יַחְדָּ֔ו (together),

כִּ֥י (that) יַד־ (the hand) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) עָ֣שְׂתָה (has done) זֹּ֑את (this),

וּקְד֥וֹשׁ (and the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) בְּרָאָֽהּ׃פ (has created it).

Meaningless Idols

21  קָרְב֥וּ (Bring near) רִֽיבְכֶ֖ם (your⁺ case), יֹאמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH);

הַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ (Put forth) עֲצֻמ֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ arguments) יֹאמַ֖ר (says) מֶ֥לֶךְ (the King) יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (of Jacob).

22  יַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ (Let them approach), וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ (and declare) לָ֔נוּ (to us) אֵ֖ת (-) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (what) תִּקְרֶ֑ינָה (will happen);

הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת׀ (the former things), מָ֣ה (what) הֵ֗נָּה (were they) הַגִּ֜ידוּ (Declare it)

וְנָשִׂ֤ימָה (that we may set it) לִבֵּ֙נוּ֙ (in our heart) וְנֵדְעָ֣ה (and know) אַחֲרִיתָ֔ן (the last things)

א֥וֹ (or) הַבָּא֖וֹת (the coming things) הַשְׁמִיעֻֽנוּ׃ (declare to us).

23  הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ (Declare) הָאֹתִיּ֣וֹת (the things to come) לְאָח֔וֹר (hereafter),

וְנֵ֣דְעָ֔ה (that we may know) כִּ֥י (if) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (gods); אַתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ are)

אַף־ (yes), תֵּיטִ֣יבוּ (do good), וְתָרֵ֔עוּ (or do evil),

וְנִשְׁתָּ֖עָה (that we may look), וְנִרָא (and see) יַחְדָּֽו׃ (together).

24  הֵן־ (Behold), אַתֶּ֣ם (you⁺ are) מֵאַ֔יִן (nothing),

וּפָעָלְכֶ֖ם (and your⁺ work is) מֵאָ֑פַע (worthless);

תּוֹעֵבָ֖ה (an abomination is) יִבְחַ֥ר (he who chooses) בָּכֶֽם׃ (you⁺).

25  הַעִיר֤וֹתִי (I have roused) מִצָּפוֹן֙ (one from the north),

וַיַּ֔את (and he has come); מִמִּזְרַח־ (from the rising) שֶׁ֖מֶשׁ (of the sun)

יִקְרָ֣א (he calls) בִשְׁמִ֑י (on My name);

וְיָבֹ֤א (and he comes in) סְגָנִים֙ (against princes) כְּמוֹ־ (like) חֹ֔מֶר (they were mortar),

וּכְמ֥וֹ (and like) יוֹצֵ֖ר (the potter) יִרְמָס־ (treads) טִֽיט׃ (the clay).

26  מִֽי־ (Who) הִגִּ֤יד (has declared this) מֵרֹאשׁ֙ (from the beginning),

וְנֵדָ֔עָה (that we might know)?

וּמִלְּפָנִ֖ים (And from before the face),

וְנֹאמַ֣ר (that we may say), צַדִּ֑יק (He is right)?

אַ֣ף (Surely), אֵין־ (no one) מַגִּ֗יד (declared it), אַ֚ף (surely), אֵ֣ין (no one) מַשְׁמִ֔יעַ (proclaimed it),

אַ֥ף (surely), אֵין־ (no one) שֹׁמֵ֖עַ (heard) אִמְרֵיכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ words).

27  רִאשׁ֥וֹן (First) לְצִיּ֖וֹן (to Zion),

הִנֵּ֣ה (behold), הִנָּ֑ם (behold them)

וְלִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (and to Jerusalem)

מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר (one bringing news) אֶתֵּֽן׃ (I will give).

28  וְאֵ֙רֶא֙ (And for I looked), וְאֵ֣ין (and not) אִ֔ישׁ (there was a man);

וּמֵאֵ֖לֶּה (among them), וְאֵ֣ין (and no one) יוֹעֵ֑ץ (was counseling),

וְאֶשְׁאָלֵ֖ם (that I might ask them)

וְיָשִׁ֥יבוּ (and they could answer) דָבָֽר׃ (a word).

29  הֵ֣ן (Behold), כֻּלָּ֔ם (all of them) אָ֥וֶן (are delusion);

אֶ֖פֶס (nothing are), מַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם (their works)

ר֥וּחַ (a wind) וָתֹ֖הוּ (and emptiness) נִסְכֵּיהֶֽם׃פ (their molten images).