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25 I have stirred up one out of the north[a] and he advances,
one from the eastern horizon who prays in my name.[b]
He steps on[c] rulers as if they were clay,
like a potter treading the clay.
26 Who decreed this from the beginning, so we could know?
Who announced it[d] ahead of time, so we could say, ‘He’s correct’?
Indeed, none of them decreed it.
Indeed, none of them announced it.
Indeed, no one heard you say anything!
27 I first decreed to Zion, ‘Look, here’s what will happen!’[e]
I sent a herald to Jerusalem.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:25 sn That is, Cyrus the Persian. See the note at v. 2.
  2. Isaiah 41:25 tn Heb “[one] from the rising of the sun [who] calls in my name.”
  3. Isaiah 41:25 tn The Hebrew text has וְיָבֹא (veyavoʾ, “and he comes”), but this likely needs to be emended to an original וַיָּבָס (vayyavas), from בּוּס (bus, “step on”).
  4. Isaiah 41:26 tn The words “who announced it” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The interrogative particle and verb are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding line).
  5. Isaiah 41:27 tn The Hebrew text reads simply, “First to Zion, ‘Look here they are!’” The words “I decreed” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

25 “I have stirred(A) up one from the north,(B) and he comes—
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads(C) on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.
26 Who told of this from the beginning,(D) so we could know,
    or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
    no one foretold(E) it,
    no one heard any words(F) from you.
27 I was the first to tell(G) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
    I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.(H)

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