Open English Translation ISA Chapter 49

49 Listen to me you islands,[ref]

≈ and pay attention you distant peoples.

Yahweh called me from before I was born—

≈ he knew my name when I was still inside my mother.

2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword that he hid in the shadow of his hand.[ref]

≈ He made me into a polished arrow that he hid in his quiver.

3 Then he told me, ‘Yisrael, you’re my servant,

and I’ll be honoured by others because of you.’

4 I replied, ‘I’ve worked with no results

≈ and used my strength for nothing at all.

Nevertheless, my justice is with Yahweh,

≈ and my wages are with my god.’

5 Now Yahweh has spoken—

the one who formed me from the womb as his servant—

to restore Yakov to himself,

≈ and gather Yisrael to him.

I’ll be honoured in Yahweh’s eyes,

and my god has been my strength.

6 Also he says,[ref]

‘It’s too insignificant for you to be my servant to raise up Yakov’s tribes

≈ and to bring back those from Yisrael who’ve been preserved.

I’ll make you into a light for the nations—

≈ to be the one who takes salvation to the ends of the earth for me.’

7 Yahweh, Yisrael’s holy one,

the one who paid the price for their freedom

says to the one whose life is despised,

the one who’s hated by the nations—a slave of rulers:

‘Kings will see and stand up,

and princes will bow down

on account of Yahweh who is faithful—Yisrael’s holy one

because he has chosen you.’

8 Yahweh says this:

I will answer you in a time of favour,

≈ and I will help you on a day of salvation[ref]

and protect you and appoint you to be an agreement for the people,

to rebuild the land so that desolate place can be redistributed as inheritances.

9 You’ll tell the prisoners to come out

≈ and those in darkness to show themselves.

They’ll graze along roads,

and over all the pasture on bare hills.

10 They won’t be hungry or thirsty,[ref]

≈ and the burning heat of the sun won’t beat down on them,

because they’ll be guided by one who has compassion on them

≈ and he’ll lead them to springs of water.

11 I’ll make all my mountains into a road,

≈ and I’ll fill all the low spots on my highways.

12 Look, they’ll come from far away,

and look, some from the north and from the west, and from Sinim.

13 Shout happily you sky and be cheerful you earth

≈ and shout with joy you mountains

because Yahweh has comforted his people

≈ and has compassion on them when they’re suffering.

14 But Tsiyyon (Zion) said, ‘Yahweh has abandoned me,

≈ and my master has forgotten me.’

15 Would a woman forget her young baby

≈ or have no compassion on the child that she’s given birth to?

Even if she could forget, I won’t forget you.

16 Look, I’ve written your name on my palms.

I’m always thinking about your city walls.

17 Your children are hurrying.

Those who destroyed and ravaged you, are going away from you.

18 Look up and see all around you,

they’re all gathering together—coming towards you.

Yahweh declares, As surely as I live,

you’ll ‘put them all on’ like jewelry,

and you’ll tie them on like a bride.

19 Look up because your ruined and desolate places,

and your devastated land,

will be too cramped for the coming inhabitants,

and those who swallowed you up will be far away.

20 Yet your descendants who were born in captivity will say in your ears,

‘This place is too cramped for us.

≈ Move over to make room for us to live here.’

21 Then you’ll think to yourself, ‘Who fathered these children?

≈ I was bereaved and barren—taken into exile and thrown away. Who raised these children?

≈ I was left alone, so where did these children come from?’

22 My master Yahweh says this:

Look, I’ll lift my hand up to the nations,

≈ and raise my banner to the peoples.

They’ll bring your sons on their laps,

≈ and they’ll carry your daughters on their shoulders.

23 Kings will become your children’s tutors,

≈ and their noble ladies will become your wet nurses.

They’ll bow down to you with their faces to the ground

≈ and lick the dust from your feet.

→ Then you’ll know that I am Yahweh—those who patiently rely on my assistance won’t be humiliated.

24 Can the booty be snatched from a warrior,

≈ or can captives escape from a tyrant.[fn]

25 But Yahweh says this:

Even the warrior’s captives will be taken from him,

≈ and the spoils will be recovered from a tyrant,

→ and I’ll oppose your opponent and rescue your children.

26 I’ll cause those who mistreated you to eat their own flesh,

≈ and they’ll get drunk on the wine of their own blood.

Then everybody will know that I am your rescuer, Yahweh,

and Yakov’s powerful one who paid the price for your freedom.