Old Testament · Prophets

Isaiah chapter 49

Listen to me, distant , pay attention, you far-off peoples: Yahweh me before I was born, while I was still inside my mother, he spoke my name.He made my mouth like a , hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me a , tucked me away in his quiver.He said to me, “You are my , Israel, through whom I will display my .”But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing. I spent all my strength and came up empty, wasted it on .” Yet rests with Yahweh; my reward is in my God’s hands.And now Yahweh speaks — he who to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to his side. I am honored in Yahweh’s eyes, and my God has become my strength.He says: “It’s for you to be my servant just to raise up Jacob’s tribes and bring back those I’ve kept safe in Israel. I’m making you a , so my reaches the ends of the earth.”This is what Yahweh, Israel’s , , says to the one by people, the one nations find disgusting, the servant of rulers: “Kings will see and stand up. Princes will bow down, because of Yahweh, who is faithful, the One Like No Other in Israel, who chose you.”This is what Yahweh says: “At just the right time, I answered you. On the day of rescue, I helped you. I’ve protected you and given you as a , to restore the land, to the devastated territories.”saying to the , ‘Come out!’ To those in darkness, ‘Step into the light!’ They will along the roads, and find pasture on every bare hill.They won’t go hungry or thirsty. The scorching heat and sun won’t strike them, because the one who has on them will lead them and guide them to .I will turn all my mountains into roads and raise up my .Look — these are coming from far away! Look — these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of !Shout for joy, skies! Celebrate, earth! Burst into singing, mountains! Because Yahweh has his people and has compassion on his .But said, “Yahweh has abandoned me. My master has forgotten me.”Can a woman forget the baby she’s ? Can she for ? Even if she could forget, I will never forget you.Look — I’ve . Your are always right in front of me.Your builders are racing back. Those who tore you apart and left you in ruins are leaving.Lift your eyes and look around — they are all gathering, coming back to you. — this is Yahweh’s — you will wear them all like jewelry, fasten them on like a bride does.Yes, your ruins and your wastelands and your demolished land — now you’ll be too crowded for everyone living in you, and those who swallowed you up will be far away.The children born during your will yet say in your hearing, “This place is too small for me. Make room so I can live here.”Then you will say in your heart, “Who gave me all these children? I was bereaved and , exiled and rejected — so who raised these? I was left completely alone. Where did all of them come from?”This is what , says: “Watch — I’m raising my hand to the nations, lifting my to the peoples. They will carry your sons in their arms and bring your daughters on their shoulders.”Kings will be your , their queens your nursemaids. They will bow to the ground before you and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am Yahweh — those who will never be .Can plunder be taken from a warrior? Can captives be rescued from a ?But this is what Yahweh says: “Yes — even a warrior’s captives will be taken, and a tyrant’s plunder will be rescued. will fight the one who fights you, and I myself will save your children.”I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh and drink their own blood like wine. Then every living thing will know that I am Yahweh, your , your — the .