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19 In the wilderness I will plant the cedar,
    acacia, myrtle, and olive;
In the wasteland I will set the cypress,
    together with the plane tree and the pine,
20 That all may see and know,
    observe and understand,
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it.

21 Present your case, says the Lord;[a]
    bring forward your arguments, says the King of Jacob.

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Footnotes

  1. 41:21–29 This indictment of Babylonian gods is patterned on a legal trial, in which they are challenged to prove power over events of history and so justify their status as gods (vv. 21–24). Israel’s God, on the other hand, has foretold and now brings to pass Israel’s deliverance (vv. 25–27). The accused are unable to respond (vv. 28–29). By such polemics (see also 43:12) the prophet declares that all gods other than the Lord are nonexistent; this implicit claim of monotheism later becomes explicit (see 43:10–11; 45:5–7, 14, 18, 21–22; 46:9; and note on 44:6).

19 I will put in the desert(A)
    the cedar and the acacia,(B) the myrtle and the olive.
I will set junipers(C) in the wasteland,
    the fir and the cypress(D) together,(E)
20 so that people may see and know,(F)
    may consider and understand,(G)
that the hand(H) of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One(I) of Israel has created(J) it.

21 “Present your case,(K)” says the Lord.
    “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.(L)

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