Isaiah 41:23-24

41:23 Predict how future events will turn out, ¹ 

so we might know you are gods.

Yes, do something good or bad,

so we might be frightened and in awe. ² 

41:24 Look, you are nothing, and your accomplishments are nonexistent;

the one who chooses to worship you is disgusting. ³ 

Isaiah 44:9-10

44:9 All who form idols are nothing;

the things in which they delight are worthless.

Their witnesses cannot see;

they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.

44:10 Who forms a god and casts an idol

that will prove worthless? ⁴ 

Isaiah 45:20

45:20 Gather together and come!

Approach together, you refugees from the nations!

Those who carry wooden idols know nothing,

those who pray to a god that cannot deliver.

Isaiah 45:1

45:1 This is what the Lord says to his chosen ⁵  one,

to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold ⁶ 

in order to subdue nations before him,

and disarm kings, ⁷ 

to open doors before him,

so gates remain unclosed:

Colossians 1:4

1:4 since ⁸  we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

[41:23]  ¹ tn Heb “Declare the coming things, with respect to the end.”

[41:23]  ² tc The translation assumes the Qere (וְנִרְאֶה [vÿnir’eh], from יָרֵא [yare’], “be afraid”).

[41:24]  ³ tn Heb “an object of disgust [is he who] chooses you.”

[44:10]  ⁴ tn The rhetorical question is sarcastic. The sense is, “Who is foolish enough…?”

[45:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “anointed” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NCV “his appointed king.”

[45:1]  ⁶ sn The “right hand” is a symbol of activity and strength; the Lord directs Cyrus’ activities and assures his success.

[45:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “and the belts of kings I will loosen”; NRSV “strip kings of their robes”; NIV “strip kings of their armor.”

[1:4]  ⁸ tn The adverbial participle ἀκούσαντες (akousante") is understood to be temporal and translated with “since.” A causal idea may also be in the apostle’s mind, but the context emphasizes temporal ideas, e.g., “from the day” (v. 6).