1Listen to me, you islands; pay attention, you peoples far away. The LORD called me from the womb. While I was still inside my mother, he spoke my name.
2He has made my mouth like a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand he hid me. He made me a polished arrow, and hid me in his quiver.
3He said to me, "You are my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
4Then I said, "I have worked hard for nothing. I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work is with my God."
5And now the LORD speaks, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him - though Israel is not gathered, yet I shall be honoured in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
6He said, "It is a small thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to bring back those of Israel who are kept safe. I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, so that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth."
7This is what the LORD says, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to the one whom people despise, whom the nation hates, a servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and stand up, and princes shall worship, because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and he shall choose you."
8This is what the LORD says: "In a time of favour I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. I will keep you, and give you as a covenant of the people, to set up the earth again, and to give out the ruined lands as an inheritance."
9"You will say to the prisoners, 'Go out,' and to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' They shall feed along the roads, and their pastures shall be on all the high places."
10"They shall not be hungry or thirsty, and neither the heat nor the sun shall strike them. For he who has mercy on them shall lead them; he shall guide them by the springs of water."
11"And I will make all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up."
12"Look, these shall come from far away; look, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim."
13Sing, O heavens; be joyful, O earth; break out into singing, O mountains. For the LORD has comforted his people, and will have mercy on those of his people who suffer.
14But Zion said, "The LORD has left me, and my Lord has forgotten me."
15Can a woman forget the baby at her breast? Can she have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
16Look, I have carved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always before me.
17Your children shall hurry back. Those who destroyed you and laid you waste shall go out from you.
18Lift up your eyes and look all around. They all gather together and come to you. "As surely as I live," says the LORD, "you shall wear them all like jewels, and tie them on as a bride does."
19"Your ruins, your empty places, and your land that was destroyed shall now be too small for all who live in you; and those who swallowed you up shall be far away."
20"The children born to you after you lost the others shall say again in your hearing, 'This place is too cramped for me. Make room for me, so that I may live here.'"
21"Then you shall say in your heart, 'Who gave me these children? I had lost my children, and was left alone, a captive, driven here and there. Who brought these up? Look, I was left by myself; these - where were they?'"
22This is what the Lord GOD says: "Look, I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and raise my banner to the peoples. They shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders."
23"Kings shall be like fathers who care for you, and their queens like nursing mothers. They shall bow down to you with their faces to the ground, and lick up the dust of your feet. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; for those who wait for me shall not be put to shame."
24Can the plunder be taken from the strong? Can the lawful captive be set free?
25But this is what the LORD says: "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the plunder of the terrible one shall be rescued. For I will fight against the one who fights against you, and I will save your children."
26"I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh. They shall be drunk with their own blood, as with sweet wine. Then all flesh shall know that I the LORD am your Saviour and your Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."