Isaiah 49
I Have Engraved You on the Palms of My Hands
← Isaiah 48 · Isaiah: all chapters · Isaiah 50 →
Listen to Me, Islands
49:1Listen to me, islands, and attend, nations. “After a long time it will stand,” says the Lord. From my mother’s belly He called my name,
49:2and made my mouth like a sharp sword. Under His hand’s shelter He hid me; He made me a chosen arrow and sheltered me in His quiver.
49:3He said to me, “You are My slave, Israel, and in you I will be glorified.”
49:4I said, “I toiled emptily and gave my strength to futility and nothing. Therefore my judgment is with the Lord, and my toil before my God.”
The Lord Who Formed Me from the Womb
49:5And now thus says the Lord, who formed me from the belly as His slave to gather Jacob and Israel to Him—I will be gathered and glorified before the Lord, and my God will be my strength—
49:6and He said to me, “It is a great thing for you to be called My servant, to establish Jacob’s tribes and bring back Israel’s dispersion. Look, I have appointed you as a covenant for a race, a light for nations, so that you may bring salvation to the earth’s extremity.”
49:7Thus says the Lord who rescued you, Israel’s God: “Sanctify the one who despises his own life, the one abhorred by nations—the slaves of rulers. Kings will see him and rise; rulers will bow to him because of the Lord, for Israel’s Holy One is faithful, and I chose you.”
At an Acceptable Time I Listened to You
49:8Thus says the Lord: “At an acceptable time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I helped you. I gave you as a covenant for nations, to establish the earth and inherit a desolate inheritance,
49:9saying to those in bonds, ‘Come out,’ and telling those in darkness to be revealed. They will be fed along all their roads, with pasture along every path.
49:10They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will scorching heat or the sun strike them. Rather, the One showing them mercy will comfort them and lead them through springs of water.
49:11I will make every mountain into a road and every path into pasture for them.
49:12Look, these come from afar, these from the north and these from the sea, and others from the Persians’ land.”
Rejoice, Heavens, and Let Earth Exult
49:13Rejoice, heavens, and let earth exult! Let mountains burst out in joy and hills in righteousness, for God had mercy on His people and comforted His people’s lowly ones.
49:14But Zion said, “The Lord has abandoned me, and the Lord has forgotten me.”
49:15“Will a woman forget her child, failing to have mercy on the offspring of her belly? Even if a woman forgets these, I will not forget you,” said the Lord.
49:16“Look, on My hands I painted your walls, and you are before Me continually.
Zion Rebuilt and Crowded with Children
49:17You will swiftly be rebuilt by those who pulled you down, and those who laid you waste will depart from you.
49:18Lift your eyes around and see them all. Look, they gathered and came to you. As I live, says the Lord, you will put them all on and wrap them around you like a bride’s adornment.
49:19For your deserted, destroyed, and fallen places will now be cramped by inhabitants, and those swallowing you will be removed far from you.
49:20For your sons whom you lost will say within your hearing, ‘This place is too cramped for me. Make room for me, so I can settle.’
49:21You will say in your heart, ‘Who bore these for me? I was childless and widowed. Who raised these for me? I was left alone; where were these of mine?’”
I Lift My Hand to the Nations
49:22Thus says the Lord: “Look, I lift My hand toward nations and will raise My signal toward islands. They will bring your sons in their bosom and carry your daughters on shoulders,
49:23and kings will be your foster fathers and ruling women your nurses. They will bow to you upon the earth’s surface and lick your feet’s dust. You will know that I am the Lord, and you will not be ashamed.
49:24Will anyone take spoils from a giant? If someone takes captives unjustly, will he be saved?”
If Someone Captures a Giant
49:25Thus says the Lord: “If someone captures a giant, he will take spoils; one taking from a strong man will be saved. I will judge your case, and I will rescue your sons.
49:26Those who afflicted you will eat their own flesh, drink their own blood like new wine, and become drunk. All flesh will perceive that I am the Lord who rescued you and upholds Jacob’s strength.”
← Isaiah 48 · Isaiah: all chapters · Isaiah 50 →
Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.