The Servant of the Lord

49 Listen(A) to me, you islands;(B)
    hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born(C) the Lord called(D) me;
    from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.(E)
He made my mouth(F) like a sharpened sword,(G)
    in the shadow of his hand(H) he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow(I)
    and concealed me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You are my servant,(J)
    Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.(K)
But I said, “I have labored in vain;(L)
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,(M)
    and my reward(N) is with my God.”(O)

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The Servant of the Lord

49 “Listen to me, you coastlands!
    Pay[a] attention, you people[b] from far away!
The Lord called me from the womb;
    while I was still in my mother’s body,
        he pronounced my name.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword;
    he hid me in the shadow of his hands.[c]
He made me like a polished arrow
    and hid me away in his quivers.[d]
He said to me: ‘You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will glorify myself.’

“I[e] said: ‘I’ve labored for nothing.
    I’ve exhausted my strength on futility and on[f] emptiness.’
Yet surely my recompense is with the Lord,
    and my reward is with my God.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:1 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT read and pay
  2. Isaiah 49:1 Lit. peoples; i.e. non-Israelis then in the land
  3. Isaiah 49:2 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab MT LXX read hand
  4. Isaiah 49:2 So 1QIsaa; 1QIsab 4QIsad MT LXX read quiver
  5. Isaiah 49:4 So 1QIsaa; 4QIsad MT LXX read But I
  6. Isaiah 49:4 So 1QIsaa LXX; 1QIsab MT lack on