Isaiah 49:8-13

International Standard Version

“I’ll answer^[a] you in a time of favor,
    and on a day of salvation I’ll help^[b] you.
I have watched over you,
    and given you as a covenant for the people,
to restore the land,
    to reassign the inheritances that have been devastated;
⁹ saying to captives, ‘Come out!’
    and^[c] to those who are in darkness, ‘Be free!’^[d]

“They will feed on all the mountains,^[e]
    and their pasture will be on all the barren hills.
¹⁰ They won’t hunger or thirst,
    nor will the desert heat or sun beat upon them;
for the one who has compassion on them will drive them
    and guide them alongside springs of water.
¹¹ I’ll turn all my mountains into a road,
    and my highways will be raised up.

¹² “Watch! They’ll come from far away—
    some from the north and from the west,
        and others from the region of China.”^[f]
13 Shout with joy, you heavens,
    and rock with glee, you earth!
        Break out in song, you mountains!^[g]
The Lord is comforting^[h] his people
    and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.