41:17 The oppressed and the poor look for water, but there is none;
their tongues are parched from thirst.
I, the Lord, will respond to their prayers; 1
I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.
41:18 I will make streams flow down the slopes
and produce springs in the middle of the valleys.
I will turn the desert into a pool of water
and the arid land into springs.
41:19 I will make cedars, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees grow in the wilderness;
I will make evergreens, firs, and cypresses grow together in the desert.
41:20 I will do this so 2 people 3 will observe and recognize,
so they will pay attention and understand
that the Lord’s power 4 has accomplished this,
and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being.” 5
1 tn Heb “will answer them” (so ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).
2 tn The words “I will do this” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text has here simply, “in order that.”
3 tn Heb “they”; NAB, NRSV “that all may see”; CEV, NLT “Everyone will see.”
4 tn Heb “hand” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).
5 tn Or “created it” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “has made it happen.”