Isaiah 41:1-9

1 Keep silence before me, islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment.
2 Who has raised up one from the east, whom he calls in righteousness to his foot? he gives nations before him, and makes him rule over kings; he gives them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow.
3 He pursues them, and passes on safely, even by a way that he had not gone with his feet.
4 Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.
5 The isles have seen, and fear; the ends of the earth tremble; they draw near, and come.
6 They help everyone his neighbor; and [every one] says to his brother, Be of good courage.
7 So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith, [and] he who smoothes with the hammer him who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good; and he fastens it with nails, that is should not be moved.
8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend,
9 you whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from the corners of it, and said to you, You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you away;
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