Read the Bible

    I have made him strong.
He is my chosen one;
    I am pleased with him.
I have given him my Spirit,
and he will bring justice
    to the nations.
² He won't shout or yell
    or call out in the streets.
³ He won't break off a bent reed
    or put out a dying flame,
but he will make sure
    that justice is done.
⁴ He won't quit or give up
until he brings justice
    everywhere on earth,
and people in foreign nations
    long for his teaching.

⁵ I am the Lord God.
I created the heavens
    like an open tent above.
I made the earth and everything
    that grows on it.
I am the source of life
for all who live on this earth,
    so listen to what I say.
⁶ I chose you to bring justice,
    and I am here at your side.
I selected and sent you^[a]
    to bring light
and my promise of hope
    to the nations.
⁷ You will give sight
    to the blind;
you will set prisoners free
    from dark dungeons.

⁸ My name is the Lord!
I won't let idols or humans
    share my glory and praise.
⁹ Everything has happened
    just as I said it would;
now I will announce
    what will happen next.

¹⁰ Tell the whole world to sing
    a new song to the Lord!
Tell those who sail the ocean
and those who live far away
    to join in the praise.
¹¹ Tell the tribes of the desert
and everyone in the mountains^[b]
    to celebrate and sing.
¹² Let them announce
    his praises everywhere.
¹³ The Lord is marching out
    like an angry soldier,
shouting with all his might
    while attacking his enemies.

¹⁴ For a long time, I, the Lord,
    have held my temper;
now I will scream and groan
    like a woman giving birth.
¹⁵ I will destroy the mountains
    and what grows on them;
I will dry up rivers and ponds.

¹⁶ I will lead the blind on roads
    they have never known;
I will guide them on paths
    they have never traveled.
Their road is dark and rough,
    but I will give light
to keep them from stumbling.
    This is my solemn promise.

¹⁷ Everyone who worships idols
as though they were gods
    will be terribly ashamed.

¹⁸ You people are deaf and blind,
but the Lord commands you
    to listen and to see.
¹⁹ No one is as blind or deaf
as his messenger,
    his chosen servant,
²⁰ who sees and hears so much,
    but pays no attention.

²¹ The Lord always does right,
and so he wanted his Law
    to be greatly praised.^[c]
22 But his people were trapped
and imprisoned in holes
    with no one to rescue them.
All they owned had been taken,
and no one was willing
    to give it back.
²³ Why won't his people
    ever learn to listen?

²⁴ Israel sinned and refused
to obey the Lord
    or follow his instructions.
So the Lord let them be robbed
    of everything they owned.
²⁵ He was furious with them
and punished their nation
    with the fires of war.
Still they paid no attention.
    They didn't even care
when they were surrounded
    and scorched by flames.