Yahweh appointed his special servant

49 All you people who live on islands in the ocean and in other distant areas,

pay attention [DOU] to what I will say!

Yahweh called/chose me before I was born;

he chose/appointed me when I was still in my mother’s womb.

2 When I grew up, he caused my messages to be like [SIM] a sharp sword.

He has protected me with his hand [SYN].

He protects me [MET] like someone protects sharp arrows in a quiver.

3 He said to me, “You will serve my Israeli people,

and you will cause people to honor me.”

4 I replied, “My work has been useless;

I have used my strength, but I have accomplished nothing worthwhile;

everything that I have done has been ◄in vain/useless►.

However, Yahweh can honor me as he pleases;

my God is the one who will reward me as I deserve.”

5 Yahweh formed me when I was in my mother’s womb in order that I would serve him;

he appointed me to bring the people of Israel back to himself [DOU].

Yahweh has honored me,

and he is the one who has caused me to be strong.

6 He says to me,

“It is not enough for you to serve me

by bringing the descendants of Jacob back to worship me again [DOU];

I also want you to be like [MET] a light for the non-Jews;

I want you to take my my message about how to be saved to people all over the world.”

7 Yahweh, the one who saves us,

the Holy God of us Israeli people,

says to the one who was despised and rejected by the people of many nations,

the one who is the slave of rulers,

“Some day kings will stand up to respect you when they see you,

and princes will bow down before you

because you serve me, Yahweh, the one who faithfully does what I promise.

I am the Holy God to whom you Israelis belong, the one who has chosen you.”