Isaiah 49:7–20

⁷The Lord sets his people free.

He is the Holy One of Israel.

He speaks to his servant, who is looked down on and hated by the nations.

He speaks to the servant of rulers. He says to him,

“Kings will see you and rise up to honor you.

Princes will see you and bow down to show you their respect.

I am the Lord. I am faithful.

I am the Holy One of Israel.

I have chosen you.”

Israel Is Brought Back to Their Land

⁸The Lord says to his servant,

“When it is time to show you my favor, I will answer your prayers.

When it is time to save you, I will help you.

I will keep you safe.

You will put my covenant with the people of Israel into effect.

Then their land will be made like new again.

Each tribe will be sent back to its territory that was left empty.

⁹I want you to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out.’

Tell those who are in their dark cells, ‘You are free!’

“On their way home they will eat beside the roads.

They will find plenty to eat on every bare hill.

¹⁰They will not get hungry or thirsty.

The heat from the desert sun will not beat down on them.

The One who shows his tender love to them will guide them.

Like a shepherd, he will lead them beside springs of water.

¹¹I will make roads across the mountains.

I will build wide roads for my people.

¹²They will come from far away.

Some of them will come from the north.

Others will come from the west.

Still others will come from Aswan in the south.”

¹³Shout with joy, you heavens!

Be glad, you earth!

Burst into song, you mountains!

The Lord will comfort his people.

He will show his tender love to those who are suffering.

¹⁴But the city of Zion said, “The Lord has deserted me.

The Lord has forgotten me.”

¹⁵The Lord answers, “Can a mother forget the baby

who is nursing at her breast?

Can she stop showing her tender love

to the child who was born to her?

She might forget her child.

But I will not forget you.

¹⁶I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

Your walls are never out of my sight.

¹⁷Your people will hurry back.

Those who destroyed you so completely will leave you.

¹⁸Look up. Look all around you.

All of your people are getting together

to come back to you.

You can be sure that I live,”

announces the Lord.

“And you can be just as sure that your people

will be like decorations you will wear.

Like a bride, you will wear them proudly.

¹⁹“Zion, you were destroyed. Your land was left empty.

It was turned into a dry and empty desert.

But now you will be too small to hold all of your people.

And those who destroyed you will be far away.

²⁰The children who were born during your time of sorrow

will speak to you. They will say,

‘This city is too small for us.

Give us more space to live in.’