Isaiah 49

₁Listen to me, distant nations,

you people who live far away!

Before I was born, the LORD chose me

and appointed me to be his servant.

₂He made my words as sharp as a sword.

With his own hand he protected me.

He made me like an arrow,

sharp and ready for use.

₃He said to me, “Israel, you are my servant;

because of you, people will praise me.”

₄I said, “I have worked, but how hopeless it is!

I have used up my strength, but have accomplished nothing.”

Yet I can trust the LORD to defend my cause;

he will reward me for what I do.

₅Before I was born, the LORD appointed me;

he made me his servant to bring back his people,

to bring back the scattered people of Israel.

The LORD gives me honour;

he is the source of my strength.

“I have a greater task for you, my servant.

Not only will you restore to greatness

the people of Israel who have survived,

but I will also make you a light to the nations —

so that all the world may be saved.”

₇Israel's holy God and saviour says

to the one who is deeply despised,

who is hated by the nations

and is the servant of rulers:

“Kings will see you released

and will rise to show their respect;

princes also will see it,

and they will bow low to honour you.”

This will happen because the LORD has chosen his servant;

the holy God of Israel keeps his promises.

“When the time comes to save you, I will show you favour

and answer your cries for help.

I will guard and protect you

and through you make a covenant with all peoples.

I will let you settle once again

in your land that is now laid waste.

₉I will say to the prisoners, ‘Go free!’

and to those who are in darkness,

‘Come out to the light!’

They will be like sheep that graze on the hills;

₁₀they will never be hungry or thirsty.

Sun and desert heat will not hurt them,

for they will be led by one who loves them.

He will lead them to springs of water.

₁₁“I will make a highway across the mountains

and prepare a road for my people to travel.

₁₂My people will come from far away,

from the north and the west,

and from Aswan in the south.”

₁₃Sing, heavens! Shout for joy, earth!

Let the mountains burst into song!

The LORD will comfort his people;

he will have pity on his suffering people.

“The LORD has abandoned us!

He has forgotten us.”

“Can a woman forget her own baby

and not love the child she bore?

Even if a mother should forget her child,

I will never forget you.

₁₆Jerusalem, I can never forget you!

I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

₁₇“Those who will rebuild you are coming soon,

and those who destroyed you will leave.

₁₈Look around and see what is happening!

Your people are assembling — they are coming home!

As surely as I am the living God,

you will be proud of your people,

as proud as a bride is of her jewels.

₁₉“Your country was ruined and desolate —

but now it will be too small

for those who are coming to live there.

And those who left you in ruins

will be far removed from you.

₂₀Your people who were born in exile

will one day say to you,

‘This land is too small —

we need more room to live in!’

₂₁Then you will say to yourself,

‘Who bore all these children for me?

I lost my children and could have no more.

I was exiled and driven away —

who brought these children up?

I was left all alone —

where did these children come from?’ ”

“I will signal to the nations,

and they will bring your children home.

₂₃Kings will be like fathers to you;

queens will be like mothers.

They will bow low before you and honour you;

they will humbly show their respect for you.

Then you will know that I am the LORD;

no one who waits for my help will be disappointed.”

₂₄Can you take away a soldier's loot?

Can you rescue the prisoners of a tyrant?

“That is just what is going to happen.

The soldier's prisoners will be taken away,

and the tyrant's loot will be seized.

I will fight against whoever fights you,

and I will rescue your children.

₂₆I will make your oppressors kill each other;

they will be drunk with murder and rage.

Then the whole human race will know that I am the LORD,

the one who saves you and sets you free.

They will know that I am Israel's powerful God.”