Isaiah 42 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Servant’s Mission

42 “This(A) is my servant;(B) I strengthen him,
this is my chosen one;(C) I delight in him.(D)
I have put my Spirit on him;(E)
he will bring justice[a] to the nations.(F)
2 He will not cry out or shout
or make his voice heard in the streets.
3 He will not break a bruised reed,
and he will not put out a smoldering wick;
he will faithfully bring justice.
4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged
until he has established justice on earth.
The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.”(G)

5 This is what God, the Lord, says—
who created the heavens and stretched them out,(H)
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,(I)
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk on it(J)
6 “I am the Lord. I have called you
for a righteous purpose,[b](K)
and I will hold you by your hand.(L)
I will watch over you, and I will appoint you
to be a covenant for the people(M)
and a light to the nations,(N)
7 in order to open blind eyes,(O)
to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,(P)
and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.
8 I am the Lord. That is my name,
and I will not give my glory to another(Q)
or my praise to idols.
9 The past events have indeed happened.
Now I declare new events;(R)
I announce them to you before they occur.”

A Song of Praise

10 Sing a new song to the Lord;(S)
sing his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea with all that fills it,(T)
you coasts and islands with your[c] inhabitants.
11 Let the desert and its cities shout,
the settlements where Kedar dwells cry aloud.(U)
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy;(V)
let them cry out from the mountaintops.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord
and declare his praise in the coasts and islands.
13 The Lord advances like a warrior;
he stirs up his zeal like a soldier.(W)
He shouts, he roars aloud,
he prevails over his enemies.

14 “I have kept silent from ages past;
I have been quiet and restrained myself.(X)
But now, I will groan like a woman in labor,(Y)
gasping breathlessly.
15 I will lay waste mountains and hills
and dry up all their vegetation.
I will turn rivers into islands
and dry up marshes.(Z)
16 I will lead the blind by a way they did not know;(AA)
I will guide them on paths they have not known.
I will turn darkness to light in front of them(AB)
and rough places into level ground.(AC)
This is what I will do for them,
and I will not abandon them.(AD)
17 They will be turned back and utterly ashamed—
those who trust in an idol
and say to a cast image,
‘You are our gods!’ (AE)

Israel’s Blindness and Deafness

18 “Listen, you deaf!
Look, you blind, so that you may see.(AF)
19 Who is blind but my servant,(AG)
or deaf like my messenger I am sending?
Who is blind like my dedicated one,[d]
or blind like the servant of the Lord?
20 Though seeing many things,[e] you pay no attention.
Though his ears are open, he does not listen.”(AH)

21 Because of his righteousness, the Lord was pleased
to magnify his instruction and make it glorious.
22 But this is a people plundered and looted,
all of them trapped in holes
or imprisoned in dungeons.
They have become plunder(AI)
with no one to rescue them
and loot, with no one saying, “Give it back!”
23 Who among you will hear this?
Let him listen and obey in the future.
24 Who gave Jacob to the robber,[f]
and Israel to the plunderers?
Was it not the Lord?
Have we not sinned against him?
They were not willing to walk in his ways,
and they would not listen to his instruction.
25 So he poured out his furious anger
and the power of war on Jacob.
It surrounded him with fire, but he did not know it;
it burned him, but he didn’t take it to heart.(AJ)

Footnotes

  1. 42:1 DSS read his justice
  2. 42:6 Or you by my righteousness; lit you in righteousness
  3. 42:10 Lit their
  4. 42:19 Hb obscure
  5. 42:20 Alt Hb tradition reads You see many things;
  6. 42:24 Lit to loot

Cross references

  1. 42:1–4 : Mt 12:18–21
  2. 42:1 : Is 49:3–7; 50:10
  3. 42:1 : Is 41:8–9; Lk 9:35; 23:35; 1Pt 2:4,6
  4. 42:1 : Mt 3:17; 17:5; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:22; 2Pt 1:17
  5. 42:1 : Nm 11:16–17; 1Sm 16:13; Ps 33:6; 139:7; Is 11:2; 40:7; 59:21; Lk 4:18–21
  6. 42:1 : Is 2:4; 51:4–5
  7. 42:4 : Is 11:11; 24:15; 42:10,12; 49:1; 51:5; 60:9; 66:19
  8. 42:5 : Ps 104:2; Is 40:22
  9. 42:5 : Ps 136:6; Is 34:1
  10. 42:5 : Jb 12:10; 33:4; Is 57:16; Dn 5:23; Ac 17:25
  11. 42:6 : Is 5:7,16; 9:7; 11:4–5; 32:1; 41:2; 45:8,13; 51:5–8; 56:1; 60:21; Jr 23:5–6
  12. 42:6 : Is 41:10,13
  13. 42:6 : Is 49:8
  14. 42:6 : Is 49:6
  15. 42:7 : Ac 26:17–18
  16. 42:7 : Is 35:5; 49:9; 61:1; Heb 2:14–15
  17. 42:8 : Ex 20:3–5; Is 48:11
  18. 42:9 : Is 43:19; 48:3,6; Rv 21:4
  19. 42:10 : Ps 33:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9
  20. 42:10 : Ps 96:11; 98:7
  21. 42:11 : Is 21:16; 60:7
  22. 42:11 : Is 16:1
  23. 42:13 : Is 9:7; 26:11; 37:32; 59:17
  24. 42:14 : Ps 50:21; Is 57:11; 62:1; 64:12; 65:6
  25. 42:14 : Is 13:8
  26. 42:15 : Is 44:27; 50:2; Nah 1:4–6
  27. 42:16 : Is 29:18; 30:21; 32:3; Jr 31:8–9; Lk 1:78–79
  28. 42:16 : Eph 5:8
  29. 42:16 : Is 40:4; Lk 3:5
  30. 42:16 : Jos 1:5; Ps 94:14; Is 41:17; Heb 13:5
  31. 42:17 : Ps 97:7; Is 1:29; 44:9,11; 45:16
  32. 42:18 : Is 35:5
  33. 42:19 : Is 41:8–9; 43:10; 44:1–2,21; 45:4; 48:20; 49:3; 54:17; Ezk 28:25; 37:25; Lk 1:54
  34. 42:20 : Rm 2:21–23
  35. 42:22 : Dt 1:39; Jr 2:14; Ezk 34:8; 36:4
  36. 42:25 : Is 29:13; 47:7; 57:1; Jr 12:11; Hs 7:9

You Might Also Like:

Isaiah 42 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

42 Lo, My servant, I take hold on him, My chosen one -- My soul hath accepted, I have put My Spirit upon him, Judgment to nations he bringeth forth. 2 He doth not cry, nor lift up, Nor cause his voice to be heard, in the street. 3 A bruised reed he breaketh not, And dim flax he quencheth not, To tru...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

42 Lo! my servant, I shall up-take him; my chosen, my soul pleased to itself in him. I gave my spirit on him, he shall bring forth doom to heathen men. (Lo! my servant, I shall uphold him; my chosen, my soul delighted itself in him. I put my Spirit in him, he shall bring forth justice, or judgement,...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - World English Bible (WEB)

42 “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.2 He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.3 He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He wil...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - The Voice (VOICE)

42 Eternal One: Look here, let Me present My servant; I have taken hold of him. He is My chosen, and I delight in him. I have put My Spirit on him; by this he will bring justice to the nations. This poem is the first of several Servant Songs. God’s special Servant is described in various ways. In th...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

First Servant Song: Justice42 Behold My servant[a], whom I uphold.My Chosen One,[b] in whom My soul delights.I have put My Ruach on Him,[c]He will bring justice to the nations.2 He will not cry out or raise His voice,or make His voice heard in the street.3 A bruised reed He will not break.A smolderi...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Servant, a Light to the Nations42 [a]Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a di...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Servant, a Light to the Nations42 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations.2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

The Servant, a Light to the Nations42 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;3 a bruised reed he will not break, and a diml...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Servant, a Light to the Nations42 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.(A)2 He will not cry out or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street;3 a bruised reed he will not break, and ...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Lord’s Chosen Servant42 “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.2 He will not shout or raise his voice in public.3 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will br...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Servant of the Lord42 “See! My servant, My chosen one! My much Loved, in Whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit on Him. He will say to the nations what is right from wrong. 2 He will not cry out or speak with a loud voice. His voice will not be heard in the streets. 3 He will not b...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Servant of the Lord42 “Behold! (A)My Servant whom I uphold,My [a]Elect One in whom My soul (B)delights!(C)I have put My Spirit upon Him;He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.3 A bruised reed He will no...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The servant of the Lord42 ‘Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New International Version (NIV)

The Servant of the Lord42 “Here is my servant,(A) whom I uphold, my chosen one(B) in whom I delight;(C)I will put my Spirit(D) on him, and he will bring justice(E) to the nations.(F)2 He will not shout or cry out,(G) or raise his voice in the streets.3 A bruised reed(H) he will not break,(I) and a s...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Lord’s Chosen Servant42 “Here is my servant. I take good care of him. I have chosen him. I am very pleased with him.I will put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.2 He will not shout or cry out. He will not raise his voice in the streets.3 He will not break a bent twig. He wil...
Read More

Isaiah 42 - New English Translation (NET)

The Lord Commissions His Special Servant42 [a] “Here is my servant whom I support,my chosen one in whom I take pleasure.I have placed my Spirit on him;he will make just decrees[b] for the nations.[c]2 He will not cry out or shout;he will not publicize himself in the streets.[d]3 A crushed reed he wi...
Read More