Isaiah 49

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

Hear me, distant lands, for the Lord knew me even before I was born; He recognized me while I was still in my mother's womb.

And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

He has transformed my words into a powerful sword, protecting me in the palm of his hand. He has refined me into a polished arrow, safely tucked away in his quiver.

And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

He told me, "You are my servant, Israel, and through you, I will be honored."

Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

Feeling defeated, I thought, "All my efforts, my energy, wasted for nothing." But then I realized, my worth is not measured by worldly success, but by God's judgment. My work is for Him, not for earthly gain.

And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

The Lord, who shaped me in my mother's womb to serve Him, desires me to guide Jacob back to Him. Even if Israel remains scattered, I will still shine brightly in the Lord's sight, drawing strength from my God.

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

He said, "Being my servant only to uplift Jacob's tribes and restore Israel is too small a task for you. I will also make you a beacon for all nations, so you can bring my salvation to the world's farthest corners."

Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

The Lord, Israel's Savior, speaks to the one scorned by people and despised by nations, a servant to rulers. Yet, kings will stand in awe and princes will bow down, for the Lord is trustworthy. The Holy One of Israel will choose you.

Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard 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 establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

The Lord says, "In your time of need, I heard you. On your day of rescue, I was there for you. I will protect you and make you a promise to the people, to restore the earth and reclaim what was lost."

That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

You have the power to free those trapped, to bring light to those in darkness. They will find nourishment on their journey, and find comfort in the highest, most unexpected places.

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

They will never feel hunger or thirst; they won't be harmed by the heat or sun. For the one who shows them kindness will guide them, leading them to refreshing springs of water.

And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

I will transform my obstacles into paths, and my journeys will be uplifted.

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

Look, they will arrive from distant lands, from the north and the west, and even from the land of Sinim.

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

Rejoice, skies above! Celebrate, earth below! Burst into song, mighty mountains! For God has soothed his people, showing kindness to those who suffer.

But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

Zion cried out, "I feel abandoned by the Lord, as if He has forgotten me."

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Is it possible for a mother to forget her nursing baby, to lack love for the child she bore? Even if she could, I will never forget you.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Look, I've etched you deep into my hands; your essence is always in my sight.

Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

Your children will quickly rise; those who harmed and ruined you will leave your side.

Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

Look around you and see: everyone is coming to you. I promise, says the Lord, you will embrace them all, like precious jewels, and wear them close to your heart, just as a bride does.

For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.

Your ruined and deserted lands, once filled with destruction, will now be too small for its people. Those who once consumed you will be long gone.

The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.

After losing your first children, your next ones will tell you, "This space is too small for me. Please, make room for me to live."

Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

In your heart, you'll question, "Who gave me these, when I thought I'd lost my children and was alone, a prisoner, constantly moving? Who raised these? I was alone, where were they?"

Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

The Lord God declares, "I will reach out to all people, raising my banner high. They will lovingly carry your sons and tenderly shoulder your daughters."

And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

Rulers will care for you like fathers, and their queens like mothers. They will show you respect, bowing before you, humbling themselves to the ground. They will honor you, acknowledging your worth. And you will realize that I am the Lord. Those who patiently wait for me will never be disappointed.

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

Can the strong be robbed of their prize, or the rightfully imprisoned set free?

But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

The Lord declares, even those held by the powerful will be freed, and the victims of the fearsome will be rescued. For He will stand against those who oppose you, and He will protect your children.

And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

I will make those who harm you eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as if on a rich wine. Everyone will realize that I, the Lord, am your protector and liberator, the powerful One of Jacob.