Isaiah 42

The LORD presents His Servant, on whom He has put His Spirit, who will bring justice to the nations. He will not cry out or raise His voice in the streets, and a bruised reed He will not break. The LORD calls this Servant as a covenant for the people and a light to the nations. Israel is blind and deaf though the LORD made them His witnesses.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.	Here is My servant, whom I uphold — My chosen one, in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit on Him; He shall bring justice to the nations.
2	He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.	He shall not cry out or raise His voice; He shall not make it heard in the street.
3	A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment in truth.	A bruised reed He shall not break, and a smoldering wick He shall not quench. He shall bring forth justice in truth.
4	He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.	He shall not grow faint or be discouraged until He has established justice in the earth. The coastlands wait for His law.
5	Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:	Thus says God the LORD — who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
6	I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;	"I am the LORD; I have called You in righteousness. I will take You by the hand and keep You. I will give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations,
7	To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.	to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon — from the prison those who sit in darkness."
8	I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.	I am the LORD — that is My name. My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved idols.
9	Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.	The former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare. Before they spring forth I tell You of them.
10	Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.	Sing to the LORD a new song, His praise from the end of the earth — you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.
11	Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.	Let the wilderness and its towns lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of the rocks sing — let them shout from the tops of the mountains.
12	Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.	Let them give glory to the LORD and declare His praise in the coastlands.
13	The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.	The LORD goes out like a warrior — like a man of war he stirs up his zeal. He cries out and roars; He prevails against His enemies.
14	I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.	For a long time I have been silent; I have held Myself back and restrained Myself. Now I will cry out like a woman in labor — I will gasp and pant.
15	I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.	I will lay waste mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn rivers into dry land and dry up the pools.
16	And I will bring the 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 unto them, and not forsake them.	I will lead the blind in ways they do not know; in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn darkness before them into light and the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.
17	They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.	They shall be turned back and utterly ashamed — those who trust in carved images, who say to metal idols, "You are our gods."
18	Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.	Hear, You deaf; look, you blind, that you may see!
19	Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant?	Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like My messenger whom I send? Who is blind like My dedicated one, or blind like the servant of the LORD?
20	Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.	You see many things, but You do not observe them. His ears are open, but He does not hear.
21	The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.	The LORD was pleased, for His righteousness' sake, to make His law great and glorious.
22	But this is a people robbed and spoiled; 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, Restore.	But this is a people plundered and looted; all of them are trapped in holes or hidden in prisons. They have become plunder with no one to rescue, spoil with no one to say, "Restore!"
23	Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?	Who among You will listen to this? Who will pay attention and hear for the time to come?
24	Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.	Who gave up Jacob to be plundered, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD — He against whom we sinned? For they would not walk in His ways and would not obey His law.
25	Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.	So He poured on Him the heat of His anger and the violence of war. It set Him on fire all around, but He did not understand. It burned Him, but He did not take it to heart.