Ésaïe 42:11-21

11 Que le désert et ses villes élèvent la voix, et les tentes qu'habite Kédar! Que les habitants des rochers chantent de joie! Que du sommet des montagnes on pousse des cris!

12 Qu'ils rendent gloire à l'Éternel, et publient sa louange dans les îles!

13 L'Éternel sortira comme un héros; il réveillera son ardeur comme un homme de guerre; il poussera des cris terribles; il déploiera sa force sur ses ennemis.

14 Je me suis tu dès longtemps, j'ai gardé le silence, je me suis contenu; mais je crierai comme celle qui enfante, je serai haletant et je respirerai à la fois.

15 Je dévasterai montagnes et coteaux, et je dessécherai toute leur verdure; je changerai les fleuves en terre ferme, et je dessécherai les étangs.

16 Je ferai marcher les aveugles par un chemin qu'ils ne connaissent pas; je les conduirai par des sentiers inconnus; je changerai devant eux les ténèbres en lumière, et les lieux montueux en plaine. Je leur ferai cela, et ne les abandonnerai point.

17 Mais ils reculeront et seront couverts de honte, ceux qui se fient aux images taillées, qui disent aux idoles de fonte: Vous êtes nos dieux!

18 Sourds, écoutez; et vous, aveugles, regardez et voyez!

19 Qui est aveugle sinon mon serviteur, et sourd comme le messager que j'envoie? Qui est aveugle comme celui qui fut comblé de biens, aveugle comme le serviteur de l'Éternel?

20 Tu as vu beaucoup de choses, mais tu n'y as pas pris garde; vous avez les oreilles ouvertes, et vous n'entendez rien.

21 L'Éternel s'est plu, à cause de sa justice, à donner une loi grande et magnifique.

Ésaïe 42:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 42

This chapter begins with a prophecy concerning the Messiah, under the character of the servant of the Lord, and his elect, whom he supported, and was well pleased with; whose work is pointed at, and for which he was well qualified with the Spirit without measure, Isa 42:1 and is described by his humility and meekness, Isa 42:2, by his tenderness to weak and ignorant persons, Isa 42:3 and by his courage and resolution, Isa 42:4 then follow his call to his work, and the several parts of it, introduced with setting forth the greatness of God that called him, as the Creator of the heavens and of the earth, and of men upon it, Isa 42:5-7, whose name is Jehovah, and whose glory is incommunicable to a creature, and whose knowledge reaches to future things, which are predicted by him, Isa 42:8,9, and then Gentiles are called upon to praise the Lord, and give glory to him, partly for the above promises concerning the Messiah, Isa 42:10-12, and partly for the destruction of his enemies, Isa 42:13-15, and also for his gracious regard to such who had been blind and ignorant, Isa 42:16, the confusion of idolaters is prophesied of, and an exhortation is given them to make use of the means of light and knowledge, Isa 42:17,18, and the blindness, ignorance, and stupidity of the Jews, are exposed, though there was a remnant among them with whom the Lord was well pleased, for the sake of the righteousness of his Son, Isa 42:19-21, but as for the body of the people, they were to be given up to the spoilers and robbers for their sins and disobedience, and be the butt of the divine wrath and vengeance, Isa 42:22-24.