21 Explain your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your foundations, saith the King of Jacob. 22 Let them bring forth and declare unto us what shall happen; tell us what has happened from the beginning, and we shall consider it in our hearts; and we shall know what his end shall be, and cause us to understand that which is to come. 23 Give us news of that which is to come hereafter that we may know that ye are gods; or at least do good or do evil that we may have something to tell, and together we shall marvel. 24 Behold, ye are of nothing and your works of vanity; an abomination is he that chooses you.
25 I have raised up one from the north, and he came from the rising of the sun; he called in my name and came unto princes as upon clay and as the potter treads clay. 26 Who has declared from the beginning, that we shall know? and beforetime that we shall say, He is righteous? yea, there is no one that declares this, yea, there is no one that teaches, yea, there is no one that hears your words. 27 I am the first that has taught these things unto Zion, and unto Jerusalem I brought the news. 28 For I beheld, and there was no one; and I asked regarding these things, and there was no counsellor; I asked them, and they did not answer a word. 29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.