[1] Give ear, O sea-lands, to me; and take note, you peoples from far: I
have been marked out by the Lord from the first; when I was still in my
mother's body, he had my name in mind: [2] And he has made my mouth like a
sharp sword, in the shade of his hand he has kept me; and he has made me
like a polished arrow, keeping me in his secret place; [3] And he said to
me, You are my servant, Israel, in whom my glory will be seen; [4] And I
said, I have undergone weariness for nothing, I have given my strength for
no purpose or profit: but still the Lord will take up my cause, and my God
will give me my reward. [5] And now, says the Lord, who made me his servant
when I was still in my mother's body, so that I might make Jacob come back
to him, and so that Israel might come together to him: and I was honoured
in the eyes of the Lord, and my God became my strength. [6] It is not
enough for one who is my servant to put the tribes of Jacob again in their
place, and to get back those of Israel who have been sent away: my purpose
is to give you as a light to the nations, so that you may be my salvation
to the end of the earth. [7] The Lord who takes up Israel's cause, even his
Holy One, says to him whom men make sport of, who is hated by the nations,
a servant of rulers: Kings will see and get up from their places, and
chiefs will give worship: because of the Lord who keeps faith; even the
Holy One of Israel who has taken you for himself. [8] This is the word of
the Lord: I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your
helper in a day of salvation: and I will keep you safe, and will make you a
glory for the people, putting the land in order, and giving them the
heritages which now are waste; [9] Saying to those who are in chains, Go
free; to those who are in the dark, Come out into the light. They will get
food by the way wherever they go, and have grass-lands on all the dry
mountain-tops. [10] They will not be in need of food or drink, or be
troubled by the heat or the sun: for he who has mercy on them will be their
guide, taking them by the springs of water. [11] And I will make all my
mountains a way, and my highways will be lifted up. [12] See, these are
coming from far; and these from the north and the west; and these from the
land of Sinim. [13] Let your voice be loud in song, O heavens; and be glad,
O earth; make sounds of joy, O mountains, for the Lord has given comfort to
his people, and will have mercy on his crushed ones. [14] But Zion said,
The Lord has given me up, I have gone from his memory. [15] Will a woman
give up the child at her breast, will she be without pity for the fruit of
her body? yes, these may, but I will not let you go out of my memory. [16]
See, your name is marked on my hands; your walls are ever before me. [17]
Your builders are coming quickly; your haters and those who made you waste
will go out of you. [18] Let your eyes be lifted up round about, and see:
they are all coming together to you. By my life, says the Lord, truly you
will put them all on you as an ornament, and be clothed with them like a
bride. [19] For though the waste places of your land have been given to
destruction, now you will not be wide enough for your people, and those who
made you waste will be far away. [20] The children to whom you gave birth
in other lands will say in your ears, The place is not wide enough for me:
make room for me to have a resting-place. [21] Then you will say in your
heart, Who has given me all these children? when my children had been taken
from me, and I was no longer able to have others, who took care of these?
when I was by myself, where then were these? [22] This is the word of the
Lord God: See, I will make a sign with my hand to the nations, and put up
my flag for the peoples; and they will take up your sons on their beasts,
and your daughters on their backs. [23] And kings will take care of you,
and queens will give you their milk: they will go down on their faces
before you, kissing the dust of your feet; and you will be certain that I
am the Lord, and that those who put their hope in me will not be shamed.
[24] Will the goods of war be taken from the strong man, or the prisoners
of the cruel one be let go? [25] But the Lord says, Even the prisoners of
the strong will be taken from him, and the cruel made to let go his goods:
for I will take up your cause against your haters, and I will keep your
children safe. [26] And the flesh of your attackers will be taken by
themselves for food; and they will take their blood for drink, as if it was
sweet wine: and all men will see that I the Lord am your saviour, even he
who takes up your cause, the Strong One of Jacob.
