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The craftsman encourages the metalsmith,
the one who wields the hammer encourages[a] the one who pounds on the anvil.
He approves the quality of the welding,[b]
and nails it down so it won’t fall over.

The Lord Encourages His People

“You, my servant Israel,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
offspring of Abraham my friend,[c]
you whom I am bringing back[d] from the earth’s extremities,
and have summoned from the remote regions—
I told you, ‘You are my servant.’
I have chosen you and not rejected you.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:7 tn The verb “encourages” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).
  2. Isaiah 41:7 tn Heb “saying of the welding, ‘It is good.’”
  3. Isaiah 41:8 tn Or perhaps, “covenantal partner” (see 1 Kgs 5:15 HT [5:1 ET]; 2 Chr 20:7).
  4. Isaiah 41:9 tn Heb “whom I have taken hold of [i.e., to lead back].”

The metalworker(A) encourages the goldsmith,(B)
    and the one who smooths with the hammer
    spurs on the one who strikes the anvil.
One says of the welding, “It is good.”
    The other nails down the idol so it will not topple.(C)

“But you, Israel, my servant,(D)
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,(E)
    you descendants of Abraham(F) my friend,(G)
I took you from the ends of the earth,(H)
    from its farthest corners I called(I) you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;(J)
    I have chosen(K) you and have not rejected you.

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