The servant discouraged, but at last triumphant

The servant: his seeming failure and his great destiny

49 Hearken, you isles, unto me,

and you peoples from far, give attention.

The Lord has called me from birth,

from the womb of my mother he gave me my name.

2 Like a sharp sword made he my mouth,

in the shadow of his hand did he hide me;

he made me a polished shaft,

in his quiver he concealed me.

3 And he said to me, ‘You are my servant,

in whom I will show my glory;’

4 But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain,

I have spent my strength on an empty nothing;

yet safe is my cause with the Lord,

and my recompense with my God.’

5 And now – thus says the Lord,

who formed me from birth for his servant,

to bring Jacob back unto him,

and that Israel to him might be gathered –

and so I had honour in the sight of the Lord,

my God became my strength.

6 He says, ‘It is too light a thing

to raise up the tribes of Jacob,

and Israel’s dispersed to restore:

I will make you a light to the nations,

that so my salvation may reach

to the very ends of the earth.’

Israel’s happy return and restoration

7 Thus says the (true) God the Lord,

Israel’s holy redeemer,

to him who of men is contemned,

abhorred of the nations, the servant of tyrants:

kings, when they see you, will rise,

and princes will bow down in homage,

because of the Lord the faithful,

and Israel’s Holy One, who chose you.

8 Thus says the Lord:

now will I favour and answer you,

now will I help and deliver you;

making you pledge and symbol

of my covenant with mankind:

restoring the (ruined) land,

and allotting the desolate heritage;

9 bidding the prisoners go forth,

and the inmates of darkness to show themselves.

They will pasture wherever they go,

even on all the bare hills will be pasture;

10 they will neither hunger nor thirst,

neither sun nor the hot wind will smite them.

For one who pities will lead them,

and guide them to foundations of water.

11 I will make all the mountains a highway,

and roads will be raised everywhere.

12 Lo! Yonder they come from afar,

some from the north and the west,

and some from the land of Syene.

13 Sing, O you heavens, for joy;

and earth, do you exult;

let the mountains break forth into song.

For the Lord comforts his folk,

takes pity upon his affected.