Add parallel Print Page Options

The Lord chose me to be his servant, even before I was born. He chose me to bring Jacob's descendants back to himself. He chose me to bring Israel's people together to serve him. As a result, the Lord will honour me. He is the one who makes me strong. The Lord, my God, says,

‘As my servant, I have a greater job for you to do.
    It will not only be to make Jacob's tribes strong again.
    It will not only be to bring back Israel's people that I have kept safe.
It will also be your job
    to bring light to the other nations.
You will show people all over the world
    that I have the power to save them.’

The Lord is Israel's Redeemer, their Holy God. Nations refuse to accept his servant. Their people hate him and their rulers have made him their slave. The Lord says to his servant,

‘Kings will see you and they will rise up to respect you.
    Princes will bend down low in front of you.
They will see that the Lord is faithful.
He is Israel's Holy God,
    who has chosen you to serve him.’

Read full chapter

And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb(A) to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel(B) to himself,
for I am[a] honored(C) in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength(D)
he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant(E)
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.(F)
I will also make you a light(G) for the Gentiles,(H)
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”(I)

This is what the Lord says—
    the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel(J)
to him who was despised(K) and abhorred by the nation,
    to the servant of rulers:
“Kings(L) will see you and stand up,
    princes will see and bow down,(M)
because of the Lord, who is faithful,(N)
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen(O) you.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:5 Or him, / but Israel would not be gathered; / yet I will be