Isaiah 49:1–6

Listen to me, O coastlands,

and give attention, you peoples from afar.

The Lord called me from the womb,

from the body of my mother he named my name.

He made my mouth like a sharp sword;

in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me a polished arrow;

in his quiver he hid me away.

And he said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

But I said, “I have labored in vain;

I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;

yet surely my right is with the Lord,

and my recompense with my God.”

And now the Lord says,

he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,

to bring Jacob back to him;

and that Israel might be gathered to him—

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,

and my God has become my strength—

he says:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant

to raise up the tribes of Jacob

and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

Listen to me, you islands;

hear this, you distant nations:

Before I was born the Lord called me;

from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.

He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,

in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me into a polished arrow

and concealed me in his quiver.

He said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”

But I said, “I have labored in vain;

I have spent my strength for nothing at all.

Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,

and my reward is with my God.”

And now the Lord says—

he who formed me in the womb to be his servant

to bring Jacob back to him

and gather Israel to himself,

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord

and my God has been my strength—

he says:

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Coasts and islands, listen to me;

distant peoples, pay attention.

The Lord called me before I was born.

He named me while I was in my mother’s womb.

He made my words like a sharp sword;

he hid me in the shadow of his hand.

He made me like a sharpened arrow;

he hid me in his quiver.

He said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

But I myself said: I have labored in vain,

I have spent my strength for nothing and futility;

yet my vindication is with the Lord,

and my reward is with my God.

And now, says the Lord,

who formed me from the womb to be his servant,

to bring Jacob back to him

so that Israel might be gathered to him;

for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,

and my God is my strength—

he says,

“It is not enough for you to be my servant

raising up the tribes of Jacob

and restoring the protected ones of Israel.

I will also make you a light for the nations,

to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Listen to me, all you in distant lands!

Pay attention, you who are far away!

The Lord called me before my birth;

from within the womb he called me by name.

He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.

He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.

I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.

He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,

and you will bring me glory.”

I replied, “But my work seems so useless!

I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.

Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;

I will trust God for my reward.”

And now the Lord speaks—

the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,

who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.

The Lord has honored me,

and my God has given me strength.

He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.

I will make you a light to the Gentiles,

and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Listen to me, coastlands,

and listen attentively, peoples from far away!

Yahweh called me from the womb;

from the body of my mother he made my name known.

And he made my mouth like a sharp sword;

he hid me in the shadow of his hand,

and he made me like a sharpened arrow;

he hid me in his quiver.

And he said to me, “You are my servant,

Israel, in whom I will show my glory.”

But I myself said, “I have labored in vain;

I have used up my strength for nothing and vanity!

Nevertheless, my justice is with Yahweh,

and my reward is with my God.”

And now Yahweh says,

who formed me from the womb as a servant for him,

to bring Jacob back to him,

and that Israel might not be gathered,

for I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh,

and my God has become my strength.

And he says, “It is trivial for you to be a servant for me,

to raise up the tribes of Jacob

and to bring back the preserved of Israel.

I will give you as a light to the nations,

to be my salvation to the end of the earth.”

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.

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;

And said unto me, Thou art my servant,

O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

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.

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.

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.