Isaiah 49

1Hear me, islands, and pay attention, peoples from afar: Yahweh called me from the womb; from my mother's innards he made mention of my name.

2He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me, and he made me a choice arrow; in his quiver he concealed me.

3He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."

4But I said, "I have toiled in vain, exhausted my strength for void and vanity; yet surely my justice is with Yahweh, and my reward with my God."

5And now Yahweh says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, though Israel will not be gathered to him; yet I will be honored in the eyes of Yahweh, and my God has become my strength.

6He said, "It is too small a matter for you to serve as my servant, to raise up Jacob's tribes and restore Israel's preserved; I will also set you as a light to the nations, so you become my salvation to the earth's end."

7Thus says Yahweh, Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to the one people despise, to the one the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: Kings will see and arise, princes will bow down, for the sake of Yahweh who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.

8Thus says Yahweh: In a time of favor I answered you, and in a day of salvation I helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant for the people, to raise up the land, to cause them to inherit the desolate inheritances.

9saying to the bound, "Come out!"; to those in darkness, "Appear!"; they will graze along the paths, and on all bare heights their pasture.

10They will not hunger or thirst, nor will heat or sun strike them, for he who shows them mercy will lead them—even by springs of water he will guide them.

11I will make all my mountains a road, and my highways will be raised up.

12See, these will come from afar; and see, these from the north and the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

13Shout for joy, heavens, and rejoice, earth; burst into song, mountains, for Yahweh has comforted his people and will show compassion to his afflicted.

14Zion said, "Yahweh has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me."

15Can a woman forget her nursing child and withhold compassion from the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

16Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

17Your children hurry; your destroyers and desolators depart from you.

18Lift up your eyes all around and see: all of them have gathered and come to you. As I live, declares Yahweh, you will wear them all as an adornment and bind them on like a bride.

19For your ruins and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction—surely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants, and those who devoured you will be far away.

20The children of your bereavement will say again in your ears, "The place is too narrow for me; make room for me that I may dwell."

21You will say in your heart, "Who bore these for me, I who am bereft and barren, captive and driven away? Who reared these? See, I was left alone; these, where were they?"

22Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will lift my hand to the nations and raise my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their bosoms, and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.

23Kings will be your foster fathers, and their princesses your nursing mothers; with faces to the ground they will bow down to you and lick the dust of your feet, and you will know that I am Yahweh, those waiting for me will not be ashamed.

24Will prey be taken from a mighty warrior, or the captive of a righteous man escape?

25Thus says Yahweh: Even captives of the mighty shall be taken, and prey of the ruthless shall be delivered; I myself will contend with the one contending against you, and I myself will save your children.

26I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and with their own blood as with new wine they will stagger drunk, and all flesh will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.