Isaiah 49:1–8

¹Listen to Me, O islands;^a

pay attention, O distant peoples:

The LORD called Me from the womb;

from the body of My mother He named Me.

²He made My mouth like a sharp sword;

He hid Me in the shadow of His hand.

He made Me like a polished arrow;

He hid Me in His quiver.

³He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel,

in whom I will display My glory.”

⁴But I said, “I have labored in vain,

I have spent My strength in futility and vanity;

yet My vindication is with the LORD,

and My reward is with My God.”

⁵And now says the LORD,

who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,

to bring Jacob back to Him,

that Israel might be gathered to Him—

for I am honored in the sight of the LORD,

and My God is My strength—

⁶He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant,

to raise up the tribes of Jacob,

and to restore the protected ones of Israel.

I will also make You a light for the nations,

to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”^b

⁷Thus says the LORD,

the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel,

to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,

to the Servant of rulers:

“Kings will see You and rise,

and princes will bow down,

because of the LORD, who is faithful,

the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”

⁸This is what the LORD says:

“In the time of favor I will answer You,

and in the day of salvation I will help You;^c

I will keep You and appoint You

to be a covenant for the people,

to restore the land,

to apportion its desolate inheritances,