Dual Panel1Listen <08085> to me, you coastlands <0339>! Pay attention <07181>, you people <03816> who live far away <07350>! The Lord <03068> summoned <07121> me from birth <0990>; he commissioned me when my mother <0517> brought <02142> me into the world.
2He made <07760> my mouth <06310> like a sharp <02299> sword <02719>, he hid <02244> me in the hollow <06738> of his hand <03027>; he made <07760> me like a sharpened <01305> arrow <02671>, he hid <05641> me in his quiver <0827>.
3He said <0559> to me, “You <0859> are my servant <05650>, Israel <03478>, through whom <0834> I will reveal <06286> my splendor <06286>.”
4But I <0589> thought <0559>, “I have worked <03021> in vain <07385>; I have expended <03615> my energy <03581> for absolutely nothing <01892> <08414>.” But <0403> the Lord <03068> will vindicate <04941> me; my God <0430> will reward <06468> me.
5So now <06258> the Lord <03069> says <0559>, the one who formed <03335> me from birth <0990> to be his servant <05650>– he did this to restore <07725> Jacob <03290> to <0413> himself, so that Israel <03478> might be gathered <0622> to him; and I will be honored <03513> in the Lord’s <03069> sight <05869>, for my God <0430> is my source <01961> of strength <05797>–
6he says <0559>, “Is it too insignificant <07043> a task for you to be <01961> my servant <05650>, to reestablish <06965> the tribes <07626> of Jacob <03290>, and restore <07725> the remnant <05336> of Israel <03478>? I will make <05414> you a light <0216> to the nations <01471>, so you can bring <01961> my deliverance <03444> to <05704> the remote regions <07097> of the earth <0776>.”
7This is what <03541> the Lord <03068>, the protector <01350> of Israel <03478>, their Holy One <06918>, says <0559> to the one <05315> who is despised <0960> and rejected <08581> by nations <01471>, a servant <05650> of rulers <04910>: “Kings <04428> will see <07200> and rise <06965> in respect, princes <08269> will bow down <07812>, because <04616> of the faithful <0539> Lord <03068>, the Holy One <06918> of Israel <03478> who has chosen <0977> you.”
8This is what <03541> the Lord <03068> says <0559>: “At the time <06256> I decide to show my favor <07522>, I will respond <06030> to you; in the day <03117> of deliverance <03444> I will help <05826> you; I will protect <05341> you and make <05414> you a covenant <01285> mediator for people <05971>, to rebuild <06965> the land <0776> and to reassign <05157> the desolate <08074> property <05159>.
9You will say <0559> to the prisoners <0631>, ‘Come out <03318>,’ and to those who <0834> are in dark dungeons <02822>, ‘Emerge <01540>.’ They will graze <07462> beside the roads <01870>; on <05921> all <03605> the slopes <08205> they will find pasture <04830>.
10They will not <03808> be hungry <07456> or thirsty <06770>; the sun’s <08121> oppressive heat <08273> will not <03808> beat down <05221> on them, for <03588> one who has compassion <07355> on <05921> them will guide <05090> them; he will lead <05095> them to springs <04002> of water <04325>.
11I will make <07760> all <03605> my mountains <02022> into a road <01870>; I will construct <07311> my roadways <04546>.”
12Look <02009>, they <0428> come <0935> from far <07350> away! Look <02009>, some <0428> come from the north <06828> and west <03220>, and others <0428> from the land <0776> of Sinim <05515>!
13Shout for joy <07442>, O sky <08064>! Rejoice <01523>, O earth <0776>! Let the mountains <02022> give <06476> a joyful shout <07440>! For <03588> the Lord <03068> consoles <05162> his people <05971> and shows compassion <07355> to the oppressed <06041>.
14“Zion <06726> said <0559>, ‘The Lord <03068> has abandoned <05800> me, the sovereign master <0136> has forgotten <07911> me.’
15Can a woman <0802> forget <07911> her baby who nurses at her breast <05764>? Can she withhold compassion <07355> from the child <01121> she has borne <0990>? Even if <01571> mothers <0428> were to forget <07911>, I <0595> could never <03808> forget <07911> you!
16Look <02005>, I have inscribed <02710> your name on <05921> my palms <03709>; your walls <02346> are constantly <08548> before <05048> me.
17Your children <01121> hurry <04116> back, while those who destroyed <02040> and devastated <02717> you depart <03318>.
18Look <05375> all around <05439> you <07200> <05869>! All <03605> of them gather <06908> to you. As surely as I <0589> live <02416>,” says <05002> the Lord <03068>, “you will certainly <03588> wear all <03605> of them like jewelry <05716>; you will put <03847> them on as if you were a bride <03618>.
19Yes <03588>, your land <0776> lies in ruins <02723>; it is desolate <08074> and devastated <02035>. But <03588> now <06258> you will be too small to hold <03334> your residents <03427>, and those who devoured <01104> you will be far away <07368>.
20Yet <05750> the children <01121> born during your time of bereavement <07923> will say <0559> within your hearing <0241>, ‘This place <04725> is too cramped <06862> for us, make room <05066> for us so we can live <03427> here.’
21Then you will think <03824> <0559> to yourself, ‘Who <04310> bore <03205> these <0428> children for me? I <0589> was bereaved <07921> and barren <01565>, dismissed <01473> and divorced <05493>. Who <04310> raised <01431> these <0428> children? Look <02005>, I <0589> was left <07604> all alone <0905>; where <0375> did these <0428> children come from?’”
22This is what <03541> the sovereign <0136> Lord <03069> says <0559>: “Look <02009> I will raise <05375> my hand <03027> to <0413> the nations <01471>; I will raise <07311> my signal flag <05251> to <0413> the peoples <05971>. They will bring <0935> your sons <01121> in their arms <02684> and carry <05375> your daughters <01323> on <05921> their shoulders <03802>.
23Kings <04428> will be <01961> your children’s guardians <0539>; their princesses <08282> will nurse <03243> your children. With their faces <0639> to the ground <0776> they will bow down <07812> to you and they will lick <03897> the dirt <06083> on your feet <07272>. Then you will recognize <03045> that <03588> I <0589> am the Lord <03068>; those who wait <06960> patiently for me are not <03808> put to shame <0954>.
24Can spoils <04455> be taken <03947> from a warrior <01368>, or <0518> captives <07628> be rescued <04422> from a conqueror <06662>?
25Indeed <03541> <03588>,” says <0559> the Lord <03068>, “captives <07628> will be taken <03947> from a warrior <01368>; spoils <04455> will be rescued <04422> from <0854> a conqueror <06184>. I <0595> will oppose <07378> your adversary <03401> and I <0595> will rescue <03467> your children <01121>.
26I will make your oppressors <03238> eat <0398> their own flesh <01320>; they will get drunk <07937> on their own blood <01818>, as if it were wine <06071>. Then all <03605> humankind <01320> will recognize <03045> that <03588> I <0589> am the Lord <03068>, your deliverer <03467>, your protector <01350>, the powerful ruler <046> of Jacob <03290>.”