Isaías 42

¹ BeholdThat is, Christ, who in respect to his manhood is called here servant. The prophets used to make mention of Christ after they declared any great promise, because he is the foundation on which all the promises are made and ratified.my servant,For I have committed all my power to him, as to a most faithful steward: some read, I will establish him: that is, in his office by giving him the fulness of my Spirit.whom I uphold; my elect, [in whom] my soulOnly he is acceptable to me and they that come to me by him: for there is no other means of reconciliation, (Mat_12:18; Eph_4:1)delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forthHe will declare himself governor over the Gentiles and call them by his word, and rule them by his Spirit.judgment to the Gentiles.

² He shall notHis coming will not be with pomp and noise, as earthly princes.cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

³ AHe will not hurt the weak and feeble, but support and comfort them.bruised reed shall he not break, and the smokingMeaning, the wick of a lamp or candle which is almost out, but he will cherish it and snuff it, that it may shine brighter.flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment toAlthough he favours the weak, yet will he not spare the wicked, but will judge them according to truth and equity.truth.

⁴ He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he hathTill he has set all things in good order.set judgment in the earth: and theThe Gentiles will desire to receive his doctrine.isles shall wait for his law.

⁵ Thus sayeth God the Lord (he that created the heauens and spred them abroad: he that stretched foorth the earth, and the buddes thereof: he that giueth breath vnto the people vpon it, and spirit to them that walke therein)

⁶ I the LORD have called thee inMeaning, to a lawful and just calling.righteousness, and will holdTo assist and guide you.thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for aAs him, by whom the promise made to all nations in Abraham will be fulfilled.covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

⁷ That thou maist open the eyes of the blind, and bring out the prisoners from the prison: and them that sitte in darkenesse, out of the prison house.

⁸ I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and myI will not permit my glory to be diminished: which I would do if I were not faithful.glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

⁹ Behold, the former things haveAs in time past I have been true in my promises, so will I be in time to come.come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

¹⁰ Sing vnto the Lorde a newe song, and his praise from the ende of the earth: yee that goe downe to the sea, and all that is therein: the yles and the inhabitants thereof.

¹¹ Let the wilderness and its cities lift up [their voice], the villages [that]Meaning, the Arabians, under whom he comprehends all the people of the East.Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

¹² Let them giue glorie vnto the Lorde, and declare his praise in the ylands.

¹³ The LORD shall go forth as aHe shows the zeal of the Lord, and his power in the conservation of his Church.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 held my peace; I have been still, [and] restrained myself: [now] will I cry like aI will haste to execute my vengeance, which I have so long deferred as a woman that desires to be delivered, when she is in labour.travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

¹⁵ I will make waste mountaines, and hilles, and drie vp all their herbes, and I will make the floods ylands, and I will drie vp the pooles.

¹⁶ And I will bring theThat is, my poor people, who are in perplexity and care.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 for them, and not forsake them.

¹⁷ They shall be turned backe: they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in grauen images, and say to the molten images, Yee are our gods.

¹⁸ Heare, ye deafe: and ye blinde, regarde, that ye may see.

¹⁹ Who [is] blind, but myThat is, Israel, which would have most light because of my Law.servant? or deaf, as myThe priest to whom my word is committed, who would not only hear it himself but cause others to hear it.messenger [that] I sent? who [is] blind as [he that is]As the priests and prophets that would be lights to others?perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?

²⁰ Seeing many things, but thou keepest them not? opening the eares, but he heareth not?

²¹ The Lorde is willing for his righteousnesse sake that he may magnifie the Lawe, and exalt it.

²² But this [is] a peopleBecause they will not acknowledge this blessing from the Lord, who is ready to deliver them, he permits them to be spoiled by their enemies through their own fault and incredulity.robbed and plundered; [they are] all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith,There will be no one to comfort them, or to will the enemy to restore that which he has spoiled.Restore.

²³ Who among you will give ear to this? [who] will hearken and hear forMeaning, God's wrath.the time to come?

²⁴ Who gaue Iaakob for a spoyle, and Israel to the robbers? Did not ye Lorde, because we haue sinned against him? for they woulde not walke in his waies, neither be obedient vnto his Lawe.

²⁵ Therefore hee hath powred vpon him his fierce wrath, and the strength of battell: and it set him on fire round about, and he knewe not, and it burned him vp, yet he considered not.