21 “Bring your case to me,” says Yahweh.

≈ “Present your arguments,” says Yakov’s king.

22 Let them bring them out and tell us what will happen.

What happened before that?

Tell us so we can ponder them and so we can know what’s been done

and then tell us what’s still coming.

23 Tell the signs of the future so that we can know if you’re all gods.

Yes, do something good or bad so that we can be amazed or afraid together.

24 Look, you’re all nothing and your actions are worthless.

Anyone who chooses you all to worship is disgusting.

25 I have stirred up a ruler from the north,

≈ and he’s coming from the east.

He’ll put his trust in me

and he’ll step on officials like mud

≈ and like a potter who works the clay with his feet.

26 Who told us that from the beginning so that we’d know?

≈ Who predicted it so that we can now say that they were correct?

Actually, no one said or announced it—

≈ no, no one heard your messages.

27 Firstly to Tsiyyon (Zion), look they’re here!

Then I sent a runner to Yerushalem to give them the news.

28 Then I looked at those idols but there was no life there.

There wasn’t any advisor among them.

29 No, all of them are a delusion—they accomplish nothing.

Their cast metal images are as empty as the wind.