Isaiah 41:17

Poverty and the vulnerable God's faithfulness

¹⁵ Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

¹⁶ Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

¹⁸ I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

¹⁹ I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
KJV: When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
WEB: The poor and needy seek water, and there is none. Their tongue fails for thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
ASV: The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
DARBY: The afflicted and the needy seek water, and there is none; their tongue faileth for thirst: I, Jehovah, will answer them, [I], the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
BLB: The poor and the needy seek water, and there is none; their tongues are dry with thirst. I, YHWH, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

ÅB: De elendige og fattige søker etter vann, men det er ikke noe; deres tunge brenner av tørst. Jeg, Herren, jeg vil svare dem; jeg, Israels Gud, jeg vil ikke forlate dem.
OTB: "De fattige og trengende søker etter vann, men det finnes ikke; deres tunger er tørre av tørst. Jeg, Herren, vil svare dem; jeg, Israels Gud, vil ikke forlate dem.
B1930: De elendige og fattige søker efter vann, men det er ikke noget; deres tunge brenner av tørst. Jeg, Herren, jeg vil svare dem; jeg, Israels Gud, jeg vil ikke forlate dem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 55:1
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Read in context
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
Read in context
Isaiah 30:19
For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.
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Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Read in context
Psalms 72:12–13
For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
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Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Read in context
Psalms 34:6
This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
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Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
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