Isa 41:17-20 | NET2full | STEP | 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; I, the God of Israel , will not abandon them.

‏ Isaiah 41:17-20

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; ^{▼▼tn Heb “will answer them” (so ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).}
I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.
18 I will make streams flow down the slopes
and produce springs in the middle of the valleys.
I will turn the wilderness into a pool of water
and the arid land into springs.
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 arid rift valley. ^{▼▼sn The rift valley (עֲרָבָה, ʿaravah) is known for its arid, desert-like conditions in the area of the Dead Sea and southward (although it also includes the Jordan Valley, extending from Galilee to the Gulf of Aqaba). The point here is the contrast from its normal arid conditions to being productive with trees, which implies being watered. Similarly, the wilderness (מִדְבָּר, midbar) in the first line is an area that receives less than twelve inches of rainfall annually and so cannot support trees.}
20 I will do this so ^{▼▼tn The words “I will do this” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The Hebrew text has here simply, “in order that.”} people ^{▼▼tn Heb “they”; NAB, NRSV “that all may see”; CEV, NLT “Everyone will see.”} will observe and recognize,
so they will pay attention and understand
that the Lord’s power ^{▼▼tn Heb “hand” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV).} has accomplished this,
and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being. ^{▼▼tn Or “created it” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV); TEV “has made it happen.”}

‏ Isaiah 41:17-20

The Lord Challenges the Pagan Gods