Isaiah:41

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* Keep (note :)God as though he pleaded his cause with all nations requires silence , that he may be heard in his right .(:note ) silence before me , O isles ; and let the people That is , gather all their power and supports . renew [their ] strength : let them come near ; then let them speak : let us come near together to judgment . * Who raised up the (note :)Who called Abraham (who was the pattern of God 's justice in delivering his Church ) from the idolatry of the Chaldeans to go to and fro at his commandment and placed him in the land of Canaan .(:note ) righteous [man ] from the east , called him to his foot , gave the nations before him , and made [him ] rule over kings ? he gave [them ] as the dust to his sword , [and ] as driven stubble to his bow . * He pursued them , and passed safely by the way that he had not gone with his feete . * Who hath wrought and done [it ], calling the (note :)Who has created man and maintained his succession .(:note ) generations from the beginning ? I the LORD , the Though the world set up many gods , yet they diminish nothing of my glory : for I am all one , unchangeable , which have ever been and will be for ever . first , and with the last ; I [am ] he . * The isles saw [it ], and (note :)Considering my excellent works among my people .(:note ) feared ; the ends of the earth were afraid , drew near , and They assembled themselves and conspired against me to maintain their idolatry . came . * They helped every one his neighbour ; and [every one ] said to his brother , (note :)He notes the obstinacy of the idolaters to maintain their superstitions .(:note ) Be of good courage . * So the workeman comforted the founder , and he that smote with ye hammer , him that smote by course , saying , It is ready for the sodering , and he fastened it with nayles that it shoulde not be mooued . * But thou , Israel , [art ] my (note :)And therefore ought not to pollute yourself with the superstition of the Gentiles .(:note ) servant , Jacob whom I have chosen , the seed of Abraham my friend . * For I haue taken thee from the endes of the earth , and called thee before the chiefe thereof , and saide vnto thee , Thou art my seruant : I haue chosen thee , and not cast thee away . * Fear thou not ; for I [am ] with thee : be not dismayed ; for I [am ] thy God : I will strengthen thee ; yea , I will help thee ; yea , I will uphold thee with the (note :)That is , by the force of promise , in the performance of which I will show myself faithful and just .(:note ) right hand of my righteousness . * Beholde , all they that prouoke thee , shalbe ashamed , and confounded : they shalbe as nothing , and they that striue with thee , shall perish . * Thou shalt seek them , and shalt not (note :)Because they will be destroyed .(:note ) find them , [even ] them that contended with thee : they that war against thee shall be as nothing , and as a thing of naught . * For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand , saying vnto thee , Feare not , I wil helpe thee . * Fear not , thou (note :)Thus he calls them because they were contemned of all the world , and that they considering their own poor estate should seek him for help .(:note ) worm Jacob , [and ] ye men of Israel ; I will help thee , saith the LORD , and thy redeemer , the Holy One of Israel . * Behold , I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth : thou shalt thresh the (note :)I will make you able to destroy all your enemies no matter how mighty , and this chiefly is referred to the kingdom of Christ .(:note ) mountains , and beat [them ] small , and shalt make the hills as chaff . * Thou shalt fanne them , and the winde shal carie them away , and the whirlewinde shal scatter them : and thou shalt reioyce in the Lord , &amp ; shalt glory in the holy one of Israel . * [When ] (note :)That is , they who will be afflicted in the captivity of Babylon .(:note ) the poor and needy seek water , and [there is ] none , [and ] their tongue faileth for thirst , I the LORD will hear them , I the God of Israel will not forsake them . * I will open rivers in high places , and fountains in the midst of the valleys : I will make the wilderness a pool of water , and the dry (note :)God would rather change the order of nature than that they should want anything , who cry to him by true faith in their miseries : declaring to them by this that they will lack nothing by the way , when they return from Babylon .(:note ) land springs of water . * I will set in the wildernesse the cedar , the shittah tree , and the mirre tree , and the pine tree , and I will set in the wildernesse the firre tree , the elme and the boxe tree together . * That they may see , and know , and consider , and understand together , that the hand of the LORD hath done this , and the Holy One of Israel (note :)That is , has appointed and determined that it will come to pass .(:note ) hath created it . * * Let them bring foorth , and let them tell vs what shall come : let them shew the former things what they be , that wee may consider them , and knowe the latter ende of them : either declare vs things for to come . * Shewe the things that are to come hereafter , that we may know that you are gods : yea , doe good or doe euill , that we may declare it , and beholde it together . * Behold , ye [are ] of nothing , and your work of naught : an abomination [is he that ] (note :)So that a man cannot make an idol , without doing that which God detests and abhors for he chooses his own devises and forsakes the Lords .(:note ) chooseth you . * I have raised up [one ] from the north , (note :)Meaning , the Chaldeans .(:note ) and he shall come : from the rising of the sun shall he That is , Cyrus , who will do all things in my name and by my direction : by which he means that both their captivity and deliverance will be ordered by God 's providence and appointment . call upon my name : and he shall come upon Both of the Chaldeans and others . princes as [upon ] morter , and as the potter treadeth clay . * Who hath declared from the beginning , that we may know ? and in times past , that we may say , [He is ] righteous ? verily , [there is ] none that sheweth , verily , [there is ] none that declareth , verily , [there is ] none that heareth (note :)Meaning , that none of the Gentile gods can work any of these things .(:note ) your words . * The first [shall say ] to Zion , Behold , behold (note :)That is , the Israelites who return from the captivity .(:note ) them : and I will give to Jerusalem That is , a continual succession of prophets and ministers . one that bringeth good tidings . * For (note :)When I looked whether the idols could do these things , I found that they had neither wisdom nor power to do anything : therefore he concludes that all are wicked that trust in such vanities .(:note ) I beheld , and [there was ] no man ; even among them , and [there was ] no counsellor , that , when I asked of them , could answer a word . * Beholde , they are all vanitie : their worke is of nothing , their images are wind and confusion .

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