The Lord Commissions His Special Servant

42:1 1 “Here is my servant whom I support,

my chosen one in whom I take pleasure.

I have placed my spirit on him;

he will make just decrees2 for the nations.3

42:2 He will not cry out or shout;

he will not publicize himself in the streets.4

42:3 A crushed reed he will not break,

a dim wick he will not extinguish;5

he will faithfully make just decrees.6

42:4 He will not grow dim or be crushed7

before establishing justice on the earth;

the coastlands8 will wait in anticipation for his decrees.”9

42:5 This is what the true God,10 the Lord, says—

the one who created the sky and stretched it out,

the one who fashioned the earth and everything that lives on it,11

the one who gives breath to the people on it,

and life to those who live on it:12

42:6 “I, the Lord, officially commission you;13

I take hold of your hand.

I protect you14 and make you a covenant mediator for people,15

and a light16 to the nations,17

42:7 to open blind eyes,18

to release prisoners19 from dungeons,

those who live in darkness from prisons.