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12 When you will look for your opponents,[a] you will not find them;
your enemies[b] will be reduced to absolutely nothing.
13 For I am the Lord your God,
the one who takes hold of your right hand,
who says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am helping you.’
14 Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob,[c]
men of[d] Israel.
I am helping you,” says the Lord,
your Protector,[e] the Holy One of Israel.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:12 tn Heb “the men of your struggle”; NASB “those who quarrel with you.”
  2. Isaiah 41:12 tn Heb “the men of your battle”; NAB “who do battle with you.”
  3. Isaiah 41:14 tn Heb “O worm Jacob” (NAB, NIV). The worm metaphor suggests that Jacob is insignificant and despised.
  4. Isaiah 41:14 tn On the basis of the parallelism (note “worm”) and an alleged Akkadian cognate, some read “louse” or “weevil.” Cf. NAB “O maggot Israel”; NRSV “you insect Israel.”
  5. Isaiah 41:14 tn Heb “your kinsman redeemer.” A גֹּאֵל (goʾel, “kinsman redeemer”) was a protector of the extended family’s interests.
  6. Isaiah 41:14 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.