Yesaya 41:1

The Lord Challenges the Nations

41:1 “Listen to me in silence, you coastlands! ¹ 

Let the nations find renewed strength!

Let them approach and then speak;

let us come together for debate! ² 

Yesaya 50:8

50:8 The one who vindicates me is close by.

Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other! ³ 

Who is my accuser? ⁴  Let him challenge me! ⁵ 

[41:1]  ¹ tn Or “islands” (KJV, NIV, CEV); TEV “distant lands”; NLT “lands beyond the sea.”

[41:1]  ² tn The Hebrew term מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat) could be translated “judgment,” but here it seems to refer to the dispute or debate between the Lord and the nations.

[50:8]  ³ tn Heb “Let us stand together!”

[50:8]  ⁴ tn Heb “Who is the master of my judgment?”

[50:8]  ⁵ tn Heb “let him approach me”; NAB, NIV “Let him confront me.”