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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.