Isaiah Chapter 49
The Servant of the LORD
49:1Listen, far off lands;
pay attention, distant nations.
Yahveh called me before I was born;
he named me inside my mother’s body.
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword
and hid me under his hand;
he made a polished arrow out of me
and put me in his quiver.
3 He told me, “You’re my servant, Israel;
I’ll demonstrate my glory in you.”
4 But I replied, “I haven’t really accomplished anything;
I’ve just worn myself out for nothing;
yet surely my just due is in Yahveh’s hands;
I’ll have to trust him for my reward.”
Is 49:1-4
5 Yahveh says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant
and bring Jacob back to him
(because Yahveh values me and strengthens me):
6 “It’s not a minor thing to serve me
and restore the remnant in Israel;
I’ll also make you a light to the Gentiles,
to take the news about my salvation all over the world.”
7 This is what Israel’s Redeemer says
to the despised nation,
the one that other nations abhor,
the servant of rulers:
“Kings will stand at attention when they see you;
officials will bow
because of Yahveh, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel that has chosen you.”
Is 49:5-7
The Restoration of Israel Promised
8 Yahveh says,
“I’ll respond to you at an appropriate time
and help you when you need deliverance.
I’ll offer you as a covenant to the people
to restore Israel’s land,
to parcel out its deserted territories,
9 to say to the ones in bonds, ‘Be free,’
and to those in darkness, ‘Come out into the light.’
My ‘sheep’ will graze along the roads
and pasture on the former barren hills.
Is 49:8-9
10 They won’t be hungry or thirsty;
the scorching heat won’t oppress them,
because the One that shows them mercy
will lead them to springs of running water.
11 I’ll make my mountains a level road
and raise my highways above the valleys.
12 They’ll come from a long way off,
some from the north and west,
some from the region of Sinim.”
13 Shout for joy, earth; celebrate, sky!
Break out into singing, mountains!
Yahveh will comfort his people
and shown mercy to his suffering ones.
Is 49:10-13
14 Yet Zion says, “Yahveh has abandoned me;
he’s forgotten about me.”
15 But Yahveh says,
“Can a mother forget her nursing child
or withhold mercy from the son she bore?
Even if you forget, I won’t.
16 I’ve written your name on my palms;
your fallen walls are always on my mind.
17 Those who rebuild you will soon return to start their work;
the ones that want to destroy you will leave.
18 Look up and around;
your people are gathering to you.
As I live,” Yahveh says,
“you’ll put them all on
like a bride attaches jewels to her wedding gown.
Is 49:14-18
19 In place of your empty spaces,
you’ll be overrun with residents;
your enemies that swallowed you will be long gone.
20 The children born in exile will tell you
it’s too crowded here.
21 You’ll ask yourselves.
‘Who was their father?
I was bereaved and barren,
wandering in exile;
I was alone; who had all these children?
Who raised them?’”
Is 49:19-21
22 The Lord Yahveh says,
“I’ll signal to the nations
to bring back your boys in their arms
and to carry your little girls on their shoulders.
23 Kings will be your foster fathers;
queens will be your nurses.
They’ll bow to you,
and lick the dust off your feet.
You’ll know I’m Yahveh;
the ones that trust me won’t be disappointed.
Is 49:22-23
24Can anybody steal prey back from a warrior
or rescue captives from a tyrant?
25But Yahveh says,
“I’ll even retrieve the captives of the strong
and rescue the tyrant’s prey.
I’ll combat anybody that combats you,
and save your children.
26 I’ll make your oppressors eat their own flesh
and get drunk on their own blood.
Everyone will know I’m Yahveh, your Savior,
your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Is 49:24-26