Isaiah Chapter 42- The office of Christ — God’s promise unto him — Praise to God for his gospel.

1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

 

2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

 

3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench; he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

 

4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.

 

5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out, he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein;

 

6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

 

7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

 

8 I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

 

9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.

 

10 Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

 

11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

 

12 Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands.

 

13 The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war; he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.

 

14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself; now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

 

15 I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

 

16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

 

17 They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

 

18 Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

 

19 For I will send my servant unto you who are blind; yea, a messenger to open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;

 

20 And they shall be made perfect notwithstanding their blindness, if they will hearken unto the messenger, the Lord’s servant.

 

21 Thou art a people, seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears to hear, but thou hearest not.

 

22 The Lord is not well pleased with such a people, but for his righteousness’ sake he will magnify the law and make it honorable.

 

23 Thou art a people robbed and spoiled; thine enemies, all of them, have snared thee in holes, and they have hid thee in prison houses; they have taken thee for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

 

24 Who among them will give ear unto thee, or hearken and hear thee for the time to come? and who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom they have sinned?

 

25 For they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law; therefore he hath poured upon them the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle; and they have set them on fire round about, yet they know not, and it burned them, yet they laid it not to heart.