The Lord's Gentle Servant

Isaiah 42

The Lord presents his chosen servant, who will bring justice to the Gentiles quietly and gently, without breaking a bruised reed or quenching dimly burning flax. He calls for a new song of praise while rebuking Israel's spiritual blindness and deafness, which brought judgment upon them.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonJACOB is My servant, I will uphold him, Israel is My chosen one, My soul hath embraced him; I have put My Spirit upon him; he will publish judgment to the nations.

BrentonJacob is my servant, I will help him: Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

GreekἸακὼβ ὁ παῖς μου, ἀντιλήψομαι αὐτοῦ· Ἰσραὴλ ὁ ἐκλεκτός μου, προσεδέξατο αὐτὸν ἡ ψυχή μου· ἔδωκα τὸ πνεῦμά μου ἐπʼ αὐτὸν, κρίσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐξοίσει.

KJVBehold 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.

JPSBehold My servant, whom I uphold; Mine elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My spirit upon him, He shall make the right to go forth to the nations.

ThomsonHe will not scream, nor urge with vehemence: nor will his voice be heard abroad in the streets.

BrentonHe shall not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor shall his voice be heard without.

GreekΟὐ κεκράξεται, οὐδὲ ἀνήσει, οὐδὲ ἀκουσθήσεται ἔξω ἡ φωνὴ αὐτοῦ.

KJVHe shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

JPSHe shall not cry, nor lift up, Nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

ThomsonA bruised reed he will not break, nor extinguish a dimly burning taper; but will publish judgment to establish truth.

BrentonA bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench; but he shall bring forth judgment to truth.

GreekΚάλαμον τεθλασμένον οὐ συντρίψει, καὶ λίνον καπνιζόμενον οὐ σβέσει, ἀλλὰ εἰς ἀλήθειαν ἐξοίσει κρίσιν.

KJVA bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

JPSA bruised reed shall he not break, And the dimly burning wick shall he not quench; He shall make the right to go forth according to the truth.

ThomsonHe will shine out, and shall not be broken until he hath established judgment on the earth. In his name therefore let the nations trust.

BrentonHe shall shine out, and shall not be discouraged, until he have set judgment on the earth: and in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

GreekἈναλάμψει, καὶ οὐ θραυσθήσεται, ἕως ἂν θῇ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς κρίσιν, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν.

KJVHe shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.

JPS—

ThomsonThus saith the Lord, the God Who made the heaven and fixed it; Who established the earth and the things therein and Who giveth vital air to the people on it, and breath to them who tread thereon:

BrentonThus saith the Lord God, who made the heaven, and established it; who settled the earth, and the things in it, and gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to them that tread on it:

GreekΟὕτω λέγει Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς, ὁ ποιήσας τὸν οὐρανὸν, καὶ πήξας αὐτὸν, ὁ στερεώσας τὴν γῆν, καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ, καὶ διδοὺς πνοὴν τῷ λαῷ τῷ ἐπʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ πνεῦμα τοῖς πατοῦσιν αὐτήν·

KJVThus 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:

JPSThus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them forth, 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:

ThomsonI the Lord God have called thee unto righteousness, and I will take hold of thy hand and strengthen thee; for I have given thee for the covenant of a race—for the light of nations:

BrentonI the Lord God have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will strengthen thee: and I have given thee for the covenant of a race, for a light of the Gentiles;

GreekἘγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐκάλεσά σε ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, καὶ κρατήσω τῆς χειρός σου, καὶ ἐνισχύσω σε, καὶ ἔδωκά σε εἰς διαθήκην γένους, εἰς φῶς ἐθνῶν,

KJVI 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;

JPSI the LORD have called thee in righteousness, And have taken hold of thy hand, And kept thee, and set thee for a covenant of the people, For a light of the nations;

Thomsonto open the eyes of the blind; to lead out from chains them who are bound; and out of prison, them who are sitting in darkness.

Brentonto open the eyes of the blind, to bring the bound and them that sit in darkness out of bonds and the prison-house.

Greekἀνοῖξαι ὀφθαλμοὺς τυφλῶν, ἐξαγαγεῖν ἐκ δεσμῶν δεδεμένους καὶ ἐξ οἴκου φυλακῆς, καὶ καθημένους ἐν σκότει.

KJVTo open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

JPSTo open the blind eyes, To bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, And them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.

ThomsonI am the Lord God; this is My name: this glory of Mine I will not give to another, nor these powers of Mine to the graven idols.

BrentonI am the Lord God: that is my name: I will not give my glory to another, nor my praises to graven images.

GreekἘγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, τοῦτό μου ἐστὶ τὸ ὄνομα, τὴν δόξαν μου ἑτέρῳ οὐ δώσω, οὐδὲ τὰς ἀρετάς μου τοῖς γλυπτοῖς.

KJVI am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

JPSI am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory will I not give to another, Neither My praise to graven images.

ThomsonWith regard to the former predictions, behold they are come to pass; and these are new things which I now declare; and before their promulgation, they are revealed to you.

BrentonBehold, the ancient things have come to pass, and so will the new things which I tell you: yea, before I tell them they are made known to you.

GreekΤὰ ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ἰδοὺ ἥκασι, καὶ καινὰ ἃ ἐγὼ ἀναγγέλλω, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ ἀναγγεῖλαι ἐδηλώθη ὑμῖν.

KJVBehold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

JPSBehold, the former things are come to pass, And new things do I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Thomson(p) Sing to the Lord a new song, ye, His government! praise His name, ye from the utmost border of the earth, ye who go down on the sea and navigate it, ye islands, and ye who dwell therein.

BrentonSing a new hymn to the Lord: ye who are his dominion, glorify his name from the end of the earth: ye that go down to the sea, and sail upon it; the islands, and they that dwell in them.

GreekὙμνήσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ ὕμνον καινόν· ἡ ἀρχὴ αὐτοῦ, δοξάζετε τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἀπʼ ἄκρου τῆς γῆς, οἱ καταβαίνοντες εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ πλέοντες αὐτὴν, αἱ νῆσοι καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες αὐτάς.

KJVSing 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.

JPSSing 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.

ThomsonLet the desert be glad and the villages thereof; the folds for flocks and them who inhabit Kedar: let the inhabitants of Petra rejoice; let them shout from the top of the mountains:

BrentonRejoice, thou wilderness, and the villages thereof, the hamlets, and the dwellers in Kedar: the inhabitants of the rock shall rejoice, they shall shout from the top of the mountains.

GreekΕὐφράνθητι ἔρημος, καὶ αἱ κῶμαι αὐτῆς, ἐπαύλεις, καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες Κηδάρ· εὐφρανθήσονται οἱ κατοικοῦντες πέτραν, ἀπʼ ἄκρου τῶν ὀρέων βοήσουσι,

KJVLet 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.

JPSLet the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar doth inhabit; Let the inhabitants of Sela exult, Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Thomsonto this God let them ascribe glory; let them proclaim His powers among the isles.

BrentonThey shall give glory to God, and shall proclaim his praises in the islands.

Greekδώσουσι τῷ Θεῷ δόξαν, τὰς ἀρετὰς αὐτοῦ ἐν ταῖς νήσοις ἀναγγελοῦσι.

KJVLet them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.

JPSLet them give glory unto the LORD, And declare His praise in the islands.

ThomsonThe Lord God of Hosts will come forth and tread down battle; He will rouse up His zeal, and shout against His enemies with majesty.

BrentonThe Lord God of hosts shall go forth, and crush the war: he shall stir up jealousy, and shall shout mightily against his enemies.

GreekΚύριος ὁ Θεὸς τῶν δυνάμεων ἐξελεύσεται, καὶ συντρίψει πόλεμον, ἐπεγερεῖ ζῆλον, καὶ βοήσεται ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ μετὰ ἰσχύος.

KJVThe 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.

JPSThe LORD will go forth as a mighty man, He will stir up jealousy like a man of war; He will cry, yea, He will shout aloud, He will prove Himself mighty against His enemies.

Thomson(J) I have been silent; but shall I always keep silence and forbear? Like a woman in travail I have endured suffering; I will strike with astonishment and wither at once.

BrentonI have been silent: shall I also always be silent and forbear? I have endured like a travailing woman: I will now amaze and wither at once.

GreekἘσιώπησα, μὴ καὶ ἀεὶ σιωπήσομαι καὶ ἀνέξομαι; ὡς ἡ τίκτουσα ἐκαρτέρησα, ἐκστήσω καὶ ξηρανῶ ἅμα·

KJVI 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.

JPSI have long time held My peace, I have been still, and refrained Myself; Now will I cry like a travailing woman, Gasping and panting at once.

ThomsonI will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all the herbage on them. I will make rivers islands and dry up pools,

BrentonI will make desolate mountains and hills, and will dry up all their grass; and I will make the rivers islands, and dry up the pools.

GreekἘρημώσω ὄρη καὶ βουνοὺς, καὶ πάντα χόρτον αὐτῶν ξηρανῶ· καὶ θήσω ποταμοὺς εἰς νήσους, καὶ ἕλη ξηρανῶ.

KJVI 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.

JPSI will make waste mountains and hills, And dry up all their herbs; And I will make the rivers islands, And will dry up the pools.

Thomsonand lead the blind in a way which they know not, and cause them to walk in paths which they have not known. For them I will make the darkness light, and the crooked ways a straight road. These things I will do, and I will not forsake them:

BrentonAnd I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, and I will cause them to tread paths which they have not known: I will turn darkness into light for them, and crooked things into straight. These things will I do, and will not forsake them.

GreekΚαὶ ἄξω τυφλοὺς ἐν ὁδῷ ᾗ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν, καὶ τρίβους ἃς οὐκ ᾔδεισαν, πατῆσαι ποιήσω αὐτούς· ποιήσω αὐτοῖς τὸ σκότος εἰς φῶς, καὶ τὰ σκολιὰ εἰς εὐθεῖαν· ταῦτα τὰ ῥήματα ποιήσω, καὶ οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψω αὐτούς·

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not, In paths that they knew not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and rugged places plain. These things will I do, And I will not leave them undone.

Thomsonbut as for them they have turned backwards! be whelmed in shame, ye who trust in graven images—who say to the molten images, ye are our gods.

BrentonBut they are turned back: be ye utterly ashamed that trust in graven images, who say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

GreekΑὐτοὶ δὲ ἀπεστράφησαν εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω· αἰσχύνθητε αἰσχύνην οἱ πεποιθότες ἐπὶ τοῖς γλυπτοῖς, οἱ λέγοντες τοῖς χωνευτοῖς, ὑμεῖς ἐστε θεοὶ ἡμῶν.

KJVThey shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.

JPSThey shall be turned back, greatly ashamed, That trust in graven images, That say unto molten images: ‘Ye are our gods.’

Thomson(p) Hear, O ye deaf; and ye blind, look up that you may see.

BrentonHear, ye deaf, and look up, ye blind, to see.

GreekΟἱ κωφοὶ ἀκούσατε, καὶ οἱ τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέψατε ἰδεῖν.

KJVHear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

JPSHear, ye deaf, And look, ye blind, that ye may see.

Thomson(J) Who indeed is blind but My servants? And deaf, but those who rule over them? Even the servants of God are become blind.

BrentonAnd who is blind, but my servants? and deaf, but they that rule over them? yea, the servants of God have been made blind.

GreekΚαὶ τίς τυφλὸς ἀλλʼ ἢ οἱ παῖδές μου, καὶ κωφοὶ ἀλλʼ ἢ οἱ κυριεύοντες αὐτῶν; καὶ ἐτυφλώθησαν οἱ δοῦλοι τοῦ Θεοῦ.

KJVWho 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?

JPSWho is blind, but My servant? Or deaf, as My messenger that I send? Who is blind as he that is wholehearted, And blind as the LORD’S servant?

ThomsonYou have seen again and again but have not regarded: your ears have been opened, but you did not hear.

BrentonYe have often seen, and have not taken heed; your ears have been opened, and ye have not heard.

GreekΕἴδετε πλεονάκις, καὶ οὐκ ἐφυλάξασθε· ἠνοιγμένα τὰ ὦτα. καὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατε.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson(p) The Lord God came to a determination, that He might be justified and might magnify praise.

BrentonThe Lord God has taken counsel that he might be justified, and might magnify his praise.

GreekΚύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐβουλεύσατο ἵνα δικαιωθῇ, καὶ μεγαλύνῃ αἴνεσιν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWhereupon I beheld and the people were plundered and dispersed: for the snare was every where in the private chambers, and in the houses also where they had hidden themselves. They were for a prey and there was no rescuer—for a spoil; and there was none who said, Restore.

BrentonAnd I beheld, and the people were spoiled and plundered: for there is a snare in the secret chambers everywhere, and in the houses also, where they have hidden them: they became a spoil, and there was no one that delivered the prey, and there was none who said, Restore.

GreekΚαὶ εἶδον, καὶ ἐγένετο ὁ λαὸς πεπρονομευμένος, καὶ διηρπασμένος· ἡ γὰρ παγὶς ἐν τοῖς ταμείοις πανταχοῦ, καὶ ἐν οἴκοις ἅμα, ὅπου ἔκρυψαν αὐτούς· ἐγένοντο εἰς προνομὴν, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ἐξαιρούμενος ἅρπαγμα, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ λέγων, ἀπόδος.

KJVBut 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.

JPSBut 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.’

ThomsonWho is there among you who will give ear to these things? Attend to those leading causes,

BrentonWho is there among you that will give ear to these things? hearken ye to the things which are coming to pass.

GreekΤίς ἐν ὑμῖν ὃς ἐνωτιεῖται ταῦτα; εἰσακούσατε εἰς τὰ ἐπερχόμενα.

KJVWho among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

JPSWho among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come?

Thomsonfor which He hath given Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to them who plundered him. Hath not God, against whom they sinned, and in Whose ways they would not walk, and Whose law they would not obey—

BrentonFor what did he give Jacob up to spoil, and Israel to them that plundered him? Did not God do it against whom they sinned? and they would not walk in his ways, nor hearken to his law.

GreekΟἷς ἔδωκεν εἰς διαρπαγὴν Ἰακὼβ καὶ Ἰσραὴλ τοῖς προνομεύουσιν αὐτόν; οὐχὶ ὁ Θεὸς ᾧ ἡμάρτοσαν αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐκ ἠβούλοντο ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ πορεύεσθαι, οὐδὲ ἀκούειν τοῦ νόμου αὐτοῦ;

KJVWho 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.

JPSWho gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? Did not the LORD? He against whom we have sinned, And in whose ways they would not walk, Neither were they obedient unto His law.

Thomsonhath not He brought upon them His fierce anger? (J) Though war prevailed over them, and they who were burning them up were all around, yet they did not, any of them, know, nor lay it to heart.

BrentonSo he brought upon them the fury of his wrath; and the war, and those that burnt round about them, prevailed against them; yet no one of them knew it, neither did they lay it to heart.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπήγαγεν ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς ὀργὴν θυμοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατίσχυσεν αὐτοὺς πόλεμος, καὶ οἱ συμφλέγοντες αὐτοὺς κύκλῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ἕκαστος αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ ἔθεντο ἐπὶ ψυχήν.

KJVTherefore 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.

JPSTherefore He poured upon him the fury of His anger, And the strength of battle; And it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not, And it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.