Isaiah 49:14-16

New Living Translation

¹⁴Yet Jerusalem^[a] says, “The Lord has deserted us;
the Lord has forgotten us.”

¹⁵“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
    Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
    I would not forget you!
¹⁶See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
    Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.

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Footnotes

49:14 Hebrew Zion.

Isaiah 49:14-16

Amplified Bible

Promise to Zion

¹⁴
But Zion (Jerusalem in captivity) said, “The Lord has abandoned me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.”
¹⁵
[The Lord answered] “Can a woman forget her nursing child
And have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.
¹⁶
“Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the ^[a]palms of My hands;
Your city walls [Zion] are continually before Me.

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Footnotes

Isaiah 49:16 In Jewish tradition there is a story representing Israel as God’s daughter, who asks Him to stamp a seal of her on His heart and arm (Song 8:6). God replies that such a seal cannot always be seen, so He has instead inscribed her upon His palms.

Isaiah 49:14-16

English Standard Version

¹⁴But Zion said, ^(A)“The Lord has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”

¹⁵^(B)“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you.
¹⁶Behold, ^(C)I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are continually before me.

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Isaiah 49:14-16

New International Version

¹⁴But Zion^(A) said, “The Lord has forsaken^(B) me,
the Lord has forgotten me.”

¹⁵“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child^(C) she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!^(D)
¹⁶See, I have engraved^(E) you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls^(F) are ever before me.