Today’s Scripture:

“Listen to me in silence, you coastlands![a]Let the nations find renewed strength!Let them approach and then speak;let us come together for debate.[b]2 Who stirs up this one from the east?[c]Who[d] officially commissions him for service?[e]He hands nations over to him,[f]and enables him to subdue[g] kings.He makes them like dust with his sword,like windblown straw with his bow.[h]3 He pursues them and passes by unharmed;[i]he advances with great speed.[j]4 Who acts and carries out decrees?[k]Who[l] summons the successive generations from the beginning?I, the Lord, am present at the very beginning,and at the very end—I am the one.[m]5 The coastlands[n] see and are afraid;the whole earth[o] trembles;they approach and come.6 They help one another;[p]one says to the other, ‘Be strong!’7 The craftsman encourages the metalsmith,the one who wields the hammer encourages[q] the one who pounds on the anvil.He approves the quality of the welding,[r]and nails it down so it won’t fall over.

8 “You, my servant Israel,Jacob, whom I have chosen,offspring of Abraham my friend,[s]9 you whom I am bringing back[t] 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.10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you!Don’t be frightened, for I am your God![u]I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my victorious right hand![v]11 Look, all who were angry at you will be ashamed and humiliated;your adversaries[w] will be reduced to nothing[