Isaiah 49:1-16 ▼

1 Listen, O isles, unto me, And hearken, ye peoples, from far: The LORD hath called me from the womb, From the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name;

2 And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand hath He hid me; And He hath made me a polished shaft, In His quiver hath He concealed me;

3 And He said unto me: 'Thou art My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.'

4 But I said: 'I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; Yet surely my right is with the LORD, And my recompense with my God.'

5 And now saith the LORD That formed me from the womb to be His servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, And that Israel be gathered unto Him-- For I am honourable in the eyes of the LORD, And my God is become my strength--

6 Yea, He saith: 'It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be My servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the offspring of Israel; I will also give thee for a light of the nations, That My salvation may be unto the end of the earth.'

7 Thus saith the LORD, The Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, To him who is despised of men, To him who is abhorred of nations, To a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, Princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; Because of the LORD that is faithful, Even the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.

8 Thus saith the LORD: In an acceptable time have I answered thee, And in a day of salvation have I helped thee; And I will preserve thee, and give thee For a covenant of the people, To raise up the land, To cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

9 Saying to the prisoners: 'Go forth'; To them that are in darkness: 'Show yourselves'; They shall feed in the ways, And in all high hills shall be their pasture;

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst, Neither shall the heat nor sun smite them; For He that hath compassion on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water will He guide them.

11 And I will make all My mountains a way, And My highways shall be raised on high.

12 Behold, these shall come from far; And, lo, these from the north and from the west, And these from the land of Sinim.

13 Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, And break forth into singing, O mountains; For the LORD hath comforted His people, And hath compassion upon His afflicted.

14 But Zion said: 'The LORD hath forsaken me, And the Lord hath forgotten me.'

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, That she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, these may forget, Yet will not I forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; Thy walls are continually before Me.