Isaiah 41:17-20

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 

[41:17]  ¹ tn Heb “will answer them” (so ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[41:20]  ² tn The words “I will do this” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text has here simply, “in order that.”

[41:20]  ³ tn Heb “they”; NAB, NRSV “that all may see”; CEV, NLT “Everyone will see.”

[41:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “hand” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[41:20]  ⁵ tn Or “created it” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “has made it happen.”