Isaiah 49:1-26.
Isaiah 49:1-26 (GNT)
1 "Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! Before
I was born, the LORD chose me and appointed me to be his servant. 2 He
made my words as sharp as a sword. With his own hand he protected me.
He made me like an arrow, sharp and ready for use. 3 He said to me,
"Israel, you are my servant; because of you, people will praise me. "
4 I said, "I have worked, but how hopeless it is! I have used up my
strength, but have accomplished nothing. " Yet I can trust the LORD to
defend my cause; he will reward me for what I do. 5 Before I was born,
the LORD appointed me; he made me his servant to bring back his
people, to bring back the scattered people of Israel. The LORD gives
me honor; he is the source of my strength. 6 The LORD said to me, "I
have a greater task for you, my servant. Not only will you restore to
greatness the people of Israel who have survived, but I will also make
you a light to the nations— so that all the world may be saved." 7
Israel's holy God and savior says to the one who is deeply despised,
who is hated by the nations and is the servant of rulers: "Kings will
see you released and will rise to show their respect; princes also
will see it, and they will bow low to honor you." This will happen
because the LORD has chosen his servant; the holy God of Israel keeps
his promises. 8 The LORD says to his people, "When the time comes to
save you, I will show you favor and answer your cries for help. I will
guard and protect you and through you make a covenant with all
peoples. I will let you settle once again in your land that is now
laid waste. 9 I will say to the prisoners, "Go free!" and to those who
are in darkness, "Come out to the light!" They will be like sheep that
graze on the hills; 10 they will never be hungry or thirsty. Sun and
desert heat will not hurt them, for they will be led by one who loves
them. He will lead them to springs of water. 11 I will make a highway
across the mountains and prepare a road for my people to travel. 12 My
people will come from far away, from the north and the west, and from
Aswan in the south." 13 Sing, heavens! Shout for joy, earth! Let the
mountains burst into song! The LORD will comfort his people; he will
have pity on his suffering people. 14 But the people of Jerusalem
said, "The LORD has abandoned us! He has forgotten us." 15 So the LORD
answers, "Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she
bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget
you. 16 Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I have written your name on
the palms of my hands. 17 Those who will rebuild you are coming soon,
and those who destroyed you will leave. 18 Look around and see what is
happening! Your people are assembling—they are coming home! As surely
as I am the living God, you will be proud of your people, as proud as
a bride is of her jewels. 19 Your country was ruined and desolate— but
now it will be too small for those who are coming to live there. And
those who left you in ruins will be far removed from you. 20 Your
people who were born in exile will one day say to you, 'This land is
too small— we need more room to live in!' 21 Then you will say to
yourself, 'Who bore all these children for me? I lost my children and
could have no more. I was exiled and driven away— who brought these
children up? I was left all alone— where did these children come
from?'" 22 The Sovereign LORD says to his people: "I will signal to
the nations, and they will bring your children home. 23 Kings will be
like fathers to you; queens will be like mothers. They will bow low
before you and honor you; they will humbly show their respect for you.
Then you will know that I am the LORD; no one who waits for my help
will be disappointed." 24 Can you take away a soldier's loot? Can you
rescue the prisoners of a tyrant? 25 The LORD replies, "That is just
what is going to happen. The soldier's prisoners will be taken away,
and the tyrant's loot will be seized. I will fight against whoever
fights you, and I will rescue your children. 26 I will make your
oppressors kill each other; they will be drunk with murder and rage.
Then all people will know that I am the LORD, the one who saves you
and sets you free. They will know that I am Israel's powerful God."
God bless you.
1 "Listen to me, distant nations, you people who live far away! Before
I was born, the LORD chose me and appointed me to be his servant. 2 He
made my words as sharp as a sword. With his own hand he protected me.
He made me like an arrow, sharp and ready for use. 3 He said to me,
"Israel, you are my servant; because of you, people will praise me. "
4 I said, "I have worked, but how hopeless it is! I have used up my
strength, but have accomplished nothing. " Yet I can trust the LORD to
defend my cause; he will reward me for what I do. 5 Before I was born,
the LORD appointed me; he made me his servant to bring back his
people, to bring back the scattered people of Israel. The LORD gives
me honor; he is the source of my strength. 6 The LORD said to me, "I
have a greater task for you, my servant. Not only will you restore to
greatness the people of Israel who have survived, but I will also make
you a light to the nations— so that all the world may be saved." 7
Israel's holy God and savior says to the one who is deeply despised,
who is hated by the nations and is the servant of rulers: "Kings will
see you released and will rise to show their respect; princes also
will see it, and they will bow low to honor you." This will happen
because the LORD has chosen his servant; the holy God of Israel keeps
his promises. 8 The LORD says to his people, "When the time comes to
save you, I will show you favor and answer your cries for help. I will
guard and protect you and through you make a covenant with all
peoples. I will let you settle once again in your land that is now
laid waste. 9 I will say to the prisoners, "Go free!" and to those who
are in darkness, "Come out to the light!" They will be like sheep that
graze on the hills; 10 they will never be hungry or thirsty. Sun and
desert heat will not hurt them, for they will be led by one who loves
them. He will lead them to springs of water. 11 I will make a highway
across the mountains and prepare a road for my people to travel. 12 My
people will come from far away, from the north and the west, and from
Aswan in the south." 13 Sing, heavens! Shout for joy, earth! Let the
mountains burst into song! The LORD will comfort his people; he will
have pity on his suffering people. 14 But the people of Jerusalem
said, "The LORD has abandoned us! He has forgotten us." 15 So the LORD
answers, "Can a woman forget her own baby and not love the child she
bore? Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget
you. 16 Jerusalem, I can never forget you! I have written your name on
the palms of my hands. 17 Those who will rebuild you are coming soon,
and those who destroyed you will leave. 18 Look around and see what is
happening! Your people are assembling—they are coming home! As surely
as I am the living God, you will be proud of your people, as proud as
a bride is of her jewels. 19 Your country was ruined and desolate— but
now it will be too small for those who are coming to live there. And
those who left you in ruins will be far removed from you. 20 Your
people who were born in exile will one day say to you, 'This land is
too small— we need more room to live in!' 21 Then you will say to
yourself, 'Who bore all these children for me? I lost my children and
could have no more. I was exiled and driven away— who brought these
children up? I was left all alone— where did these children come
from?'" 22 The Sovereign LORD says to his people: "I will signal to
the nations, and they will bring your children home. 23 Kings will be
like fathers to you; queens will be like mothers. They will bow low
before you and honor you; they will humbly show their respect for you.
Then you will know that I am the LORD; no one who waits for my help
will be disappointed." 24 Can you take away a soldier's loot? Can you
rescue the prisoners of a tyrant? 25 The LORD replies, "That is just
what is going to happen. The soldier's prisoners will be taken away,
and the tyrant's loot will be seized. I will fight against whoever
fights you, and I will rescue your children. 26 I will make your
oppressors kill each other; they will be drunk with murder and rage.
Then all people will know that I am the LORD, the one who saves you
and sets you free. They will know that I am Israel's powerful God."
God bless you.
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