Isaiah 49:1-3

Contemporary English Version

49 ^(A) Everyone, listen,
even you foreign nations
    across the sea.
The Lord chose me
and gave me a name
    before I was born.
^2 (B) He made my words pierce
like a sharp sword
    or a pointed arrow;
he kept me safely hidden
    in the palm of his hand.
³ The Lord said to me,
    “Israel, you are my servant;
and because of you
    I will be highly honored.”