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I Will Give You as a Light of the Nations

49 Listen to Me, O (A)coastlands,
And pay attention, you peoples from afar.
(B)Yahweh called Me from the womb;
From the [a]body of My mother He made My name to be remembered.
He has set My (C)mouth like a sharp sword;
In the (D)shadow of His hand He has concealed Me;
And He has also set Me as a [b]select (E)arrow;
He has hidden Me in His quiver.
He said to Me, “(F)You are My Servant, Israel,
(G)In Whom I will [c]show forth My beautiful glory.”
But I said, “I have (H)toiled in vain;
I have spent My might for [d]nothing and vanity;
Yet surely the justice due to Me is with Yahweh,
And My (I)reward with My God.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:1 Lit inward parts
  2. Isaiah 49:2 Or sharpened
  3. Isaiah 49:3 Or glorify Myself
  4. Isaiah 49:4 Lit formlessness

The servant speaks up

49 Listen to me, coastlands;
    pay attention, peoples far away.
The Lord called me before my birth,
    called my name when I was in my mother’s womb.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
    and hid me in the shadow of God’s own hand.
He made me a sharpened arrow,
        and concealed me in God’s quiver,
    saying to me, “You are my servant,
        Israel, in whom I show my glory.”
But I said, “I have wearied myself in vain.
    I have used up my strength for nothing.”
Nevertheless, the Lord will grant me justice;
    my reward is with my God.

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