14 But Zion said, The Lord hath [a]forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

15 Can a woman forget her child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? though they should forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palm of mine [b]hands: thy [c]walls are ever in my sight.

17 Thy builders make [d]haste: thy destroyers and they that made thee waste, are departed from thee.

18 Lift up thine eyes round about and behold: all these gather themselves together and come to thee: as I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt surely [e]put them all upon thee as a garment, and gird thyself with them like a bride.

19 For thy desolations, and thy waste places, and thy land destroyed, shall surely be now narrow for them that shall dwell in it, and they that dwell devour thee, shall be far away.

20 The children of thy barrenness shall say again in thine ears, The place is strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.

21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I am barren and desolate, a captive and a wanderer to and fro? and who hath nourished them? behold, I was left alone: whence are these?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:14 He objecteth what the faithful might say in their long affliction, and answereth thereunto to comfort them, with a most proper similitude, and full of consolation.
  2. Isaiah 49:16 Because I would not forget thee.
  3. Isaiah 49:16 Meaning, the good order of policy, and discipline.
  4. Isaiah 49:17 I have continual care to build thee up again, and to destroy thine enemies.
  5. Isaiah 49:18 He showeth what are the ornaments of the Church: to have many children, which are assembled by the word of God, and governed by his Spirit.

Bible Gateway Recommends