41:25 I have stirred up one out of the north 1 and he advances,
one from the eastern horizon who prays in my name. 2
He steps on 3 rulers as if they were clay,
like a potter treading the clay.
41:26 Who decreed this from the beginning, so we could know?
Who announced it 4 ahead of time, so we could say, ‘He’s correct’?
Indeed, none of them decreed it!
Indeed, none of them announced it!
Indeed, no one heard you say anything!
41:27 I first decreed to Zion, ‘Look, here’s what will happen!’ 5
I sent a herald to Jerusalem. 6
41:28 I look, but there is no one,
among them there is no one who serves as an adviser,
that I might ask questions and receive answers.
41:29 Look, all of them are nothing, 7
their accomplishments are nonexistent;
their metal images lack any real substance. 8