Isaiah 49 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Listen, islands, to me.
Listen, you peoples, from afar:
Yahweh has called me from the womb;
from the inside of my mother, he has mentioned my name.
[2] He has made my mouth like a sharp sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
He has made me a polished shaft.
He has kept me close in his quiver.
[3] He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
[4] But I said, “I have labored in vain.
I have spent my strength in vain for nothing;
yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh,
and my reward with my God.” [5] Now Yahweh, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
says to bring Jacob again to him,
and to gather Israel to him,
for I am honorable in Yahweh’s eyes,
and my God has become my strength.
[6] Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and to restore the preserved of Israel.
I will also give you as a light to the nations,
that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”
[7] Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One,
says to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and rise up,
princes, and they shall worship,
because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” [8] Yahweh says, “I have answered you in an acceptable time.
I have helped you in a day of salvation.
I will preserve you and give you for a covenant of the people,
to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage,
[9] saying to those who are bound, ‘Come out!’;
to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’
“They shall feed along the paths,
and their pasture shall be on all treeless heights.
[10] They shall not hunger nor thirst;
neither shall the heat nor sun strike them,
for he who has mercy on them will lead them.
He will guide them by springs of water.
[11] I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be exalted.
[12] Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Sinim.”
[13] Sing, heavens, and be joyful, earth!
Break out into singing, mountains!
For Yahweh has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his afflicted. [14] But Zion said, “Yahweh has forsaken me,
and the Lord has forgotten me.”
[15] “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
yet I will not forget you!
[16] Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
Your walls are continually before me.
[17] Your children hurry.
Your destroyers and those who devastated you will leave you.
[18] Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
all these gather themselves together, and come to you.
As I live,” says Yahweh, “you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament,
and dress yourself with them, like a bride.
[19] “For, as for your waste and your desolate places,
and your land that has been destroyed,
surely now that land will be too small for the inhabitants,
and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
[20] The children of your bereavement will say in your ears,
‘This place is too small for me.
Give me a place to live in.’
[21] Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children
and am alone, an exile, and wandering back and forth?
Who has brought these up?
Behold, I was left alone. Where were these?’ ” [22] The Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations,
and lift up my banner to the peoples.
They shall bring your sons in their bosom,
and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
[23] Kings shall be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth,
and lick the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh;
and those who wait for me won’t be disappointed.” [24] Shall the plunder be taken from the mighty,
or the lawful captives be delivered?
[25] But Yahweh says, “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away,
and the plunder retrieved from the fierce,
for I will contend with him who contends with you
and I will save your children.
[26] I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh;
and they will be drunk on their own blood, as with sweet wine.
Then all flesh shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Listen, you peoples, from afar:
Yahweh has called me from the womb;
from the inside of my mother, he has mentioned my name.
[2] He has made my mouth like a sharp sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
He has made me a polished shaft.
He has kept me close in his quiver.
[3] He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
[4] But I said, “I have labored in vain.
I have spent my strength in vain for nothing;
yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh,
and my reward with my God.” [5] Now Yahweh, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
says to bring Jacob again to him,
and to gather Israel to him,
for I am honorable in Yahweh’s eyes,
and my God has become my strength.
[6] Indeed, he says, “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and to restore the preserved of Israel.
I will also give you as a light to the nations,
that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.”
[7] Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One,
says to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers:
“Kings shall see and rise up,
princes, and they shall worship,
because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” [8] Yahweh says, “I have answered you in an acceptable time.
I have helped you in a day of salvation.
I will preserve you and give you for a covenant of the people,
to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage,
[9] saying to those who are bound, ‘Come out!’;
to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves!’
“They shall feed along the paths,
and their pasture shall be on all treeless heights.
[10] They shall not hunger nor thirst;
neither shall the heat nor sun strike them,
for he who has mercy on them will lead them.
He will guide them by springs of water.
[11] I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be exalted.
[12] Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Sinim.”
[13] Sing, heavens, and be joyful, earth!
Break out into singing, mountains!
For Yahweh has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his afflicted. [14] But Zion said, “Yahweh has forsaken me,
and the Lord has forgotten me.”
[15] “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Yes, these may forget,
yet I will not forget you!
[16] Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
Your walls are continually before me.
[17] Your children hurry.
Your destroyers and those who devastated you will leave you.
[18] Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
all these gather themselves together, and come to you.
As I live,” says Yahweh, “you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament,
and dress yourself with them, like a bride.
[19] “For, as for your waste and your desolate places,
and your land that has been destroyed,
surely now that land will be too small for the inhabitants,
and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
[20] The children of your bereavement will say in your ears,
‘This place is too small for me.
Give me a place to live in.’
[21] Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children
and am alone, an exile, and wandering back and forth?
Who has brought these up?
Behold, I was left alone. Where were these?’ ” [22] The Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations,
and lift up my banner to the peoples.
They shall bring your sons in their bosom,
and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
[23] Kings shall be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth,
and lick the dust of your feet.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh;
and those who wait for me won’t be disappointed.” [24] Shall the plunder be taken from the mighty,
or the lawful captives be delivered?
[25] But Yahweh says, “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away,
and the plunder retrieved from the fierce,
for I will contend with him who contends with you
and I will save your children.
[26] I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh;
and they will be drunk on their own blood, as with sweet wine.
Then all flesh shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
King James Version
The Servant’s Commission
[1] Listen, H8085 (QalImpv) O isles, H339 unto me; and hearken, H7181 (HiphImpv) ye people, H3816 from far; H7350 The Lord H3068 hath called H7121 (QalPerf) me from the womb; H990 from the bowels H4578 of my mother H517 hath he made mention H2142 (HiphPerf) of my name. H8034 [2] And he hath made H7760 (QalImpf) my mouth H6310 like a sharp H2299 sword; H2719 in the shadow H6738 of his hand H3027 hath he hid H2244 (HiphPerf) me, and made H7760 (QalImpf) me a polished H1305 (QalPasPtc) shaft; H2671 in his quiver H827 hath he hid H5641 (HiphPerf) me; [3] and said H559 (QalImpf) unto me, Thou art my servant, H5650 O Israel, H3478 in whom I will be glorified. H6286 (HithImpf) [4] Then I said, H559 (QalPerf) I have laboured H3021 (QalPerf) in vain, H7385 I have spent H3615 (PielPerf) my strength H3581 for nought, H8414 and in vain: H1892 yet surely H403 my judgment H4941 is with the Lord, H3068 and my work H6468§ with my God. H430 [5] And now, saith H559 (QalPerf) the Lord H3068 that formed H3335 (QalActPtc) me from the womb H990 to be his servant, H5650 to bring H7725 Jacob H3290 again H7725 (PoleInf) to him, Though Israel H3478 be not gathered, H622 (NiphImpf) yet shall I§ be glorious H3513 (NiphImpf) in the eyes H5869 of the Lord, H3068 and my God H430 shall be my strength. H5797 [6] And he said, H559 (QalImpf) It is a light thing H7043 (NiphPerf) that thou shouldest be my servant H5650 to raise up H6965 (HiphInf) the tribes H7626 of Jacob, H3290 and to restore H7725 (HiphInf) the preserved H5341 (QalPasPtc/Qere)§ of Israel: H3478 I will also give H5414 (QalPerf) thee for a light H216 to the Gentiles, H1471 that thou mayest be my salvation H3444 unto the end H7097 of the earth. H776 [7] Thus saith H559 (QalPerf) the Lord, H3068 the Redeemer H1350 (QalActPtc) of Israel, H3478 and his Holy One, H6918 to him whom man H5315 despiseth, H960§ to him whom the nation H1471 abhorreth, H8581 (PielPtc) to a servant H5650 of rulers, H4910 (QalActPtc) Kings H4428 shall see H7200 (QalImpf) and arise, H6965 (QalPerf) princes H8269 also shall worship, H7812 (HithImpf) because of the Lord H3068 that is faithful, H539 (NiphPtc) and the Holy One H6918 of Israel, H3478 and he shall choose H977 (QalImpf) thee. [8] Thus saith H559 (QalPerf) the Lord, H3068 In an acceptable H7522 time H6256 have I heard H6030 (QalPerf) thee, and in a day H3117 of salvation H3444 have I helped H5826 (QalPerf) thee: and I will preserve H5341 (QalImpf) thee, and give H5414 (QalImpf) thee for a covenant H1285 of the people, H5971 to establish H6965 (HiphInf)§ the earth, H776 to cause to inherit H5157 (HiphInf) the desolate H8074 (QalActPtc) heritages; H5159 [9] that thou mayest say H559 (QalInf) to the prisoners, H631 (QalPasPtc) Go forth; H3318 (QalImpv) to them that are in darkness, H2822 Shew H1540 (NiphImpv) yourselves. They shall feed H7462 (QalImpf) in the ways, H1870 and their pastures H4830 shall be in all high places. H8205 [10] They shall not hunger H7456 (QalImpf) nor thirst; H6770 (QalImpf) neither shall the heat H8273 nor sun H8121 smite H5221 (HiphImpf) them: for he that hath mercy H7355 (PielPtc) on them shall lead H5090 (PielImpf) them, even by the springs H4002 of water H4325 shall he guide H5095 (PielImpf) them. [11] And I will make H7760 (QalPerf) all my mountains H2022 a way, H1870 and my highways H4546 shall be exalted. H7311 (QalImpf) [12] Behold, these shall come H935 (QalImpf) from far: H7350 and, lo, these from the north H6828 and from the west; H3220 and these from the land H776 of Sinim. H5515 [13] Sing, H7442 (QalImpv) O heavens; H8064 and be joyful, H1523 (QalImpv) O earth; H776 and break forth H6476 (QalImpv) into singing, H7440 O mountains: H2022 for the Lord H3068 hath comforted H5162 (PielPerf) his people, H5971 and will have mercy H7355 (PielImpf) upon his afflicted. H6041 [14] But Zion H6726 said, H559 (QalImpf) The Lord H3068 hath forsaken H5800 (QalPerf) me, and my Lord H136 hath forgotten H7911 (QalPerf) me. [15] Can a woman H802 forget H7911 (QalImpf) her sucking child, H5764 that she should not have compassion H7355 (PielInf)§ on the son H1121 of her womb? H990 yea, they may forget, H7911 (QalImpf) yet will I not forget H7911 (QalImpf) thee. [16] Behold, I have graven H2710 (QalPerf) thee upon the palms of my hands; H3709 thy walls H2346 are continually H8548 before me. [17] Thy children H1121 shall make haste; H4116 (PielPerf) thy destroyers H2040 (PielPtc) and they that made thee waste H2717 (HiphPtc) shall go forth H3318 (QalImpf) of thee. [18] Lift up H5375 (QalImpv) thine eyes H5869 round about, H5439 and behold: H7200 (QalImpv) all these gather themselves together, H6908 (NiphPerf) and come H935 (QalPerf) to thee. As I live, H2416 saith H5002 (QalPasPtc) the Lord, H3068 thou shalt surely clothe H3847 (QalImpf) thee with them all, as with an ornament, H5716 and bind H7194 (PielImpf) them on thee, as a bride H3618 doeth. [19] For thy waste H2723 and thy desolate places, H8074 (QalActPtc) and the land H776 of thy destruction, H2035 shall even now be too narrow H3334 (QalImpf) by reason of the inhabitants, H3427 (QalActPtc) and they that swallowed thee up H1104 (PielPtc) shall be far away. H7368 (QalPerf) [20] The children H1121 which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost H7923 the other, shall say H559 (QalImpf) again in thine ears, H241 The place H4725 is too strait H6862 for me: give H5066 (QalImpv) place H4725 to me that I may dwell. H3427 (QalImpf) [21] Then shalt thou say H559 (QalPerf) in thine heart, H3824 Who hath begotten H3205 (QalPerf) me these, seeing I have lost my children, H7921 (QalPasPtc) and am desolate, H1565 a captive, H1540 (QalActPtc) and removing to and fro? H5493 (QalPasPtc) and who hath brought up H1431 (PielPerf) these? Behold, I was left H7604 (NiphPerf) alone; these, where H375 had they been? [22] Thus saith H559 (QalPerf) the Lord H136 God, H3069 Behold, I will lift up H5375 (QalImpf) mine hand H3027 to the Gentiles, H1471 and set up H7311 (HiphImpf) my standard H5251 to the people: H5971 and they shall bring H935 (HiphPerf) thy sons H1121 in their arms,§ H2684 and thy daughters H1323 shall be carried H5375 (NiphImpf) upon their shoulders. H3802 [23] And kings H4428 shall be thy nursing fathers, H539 (QalActPtc)§ and their queens H8282§ thy nursing mothers: H3243 (HiphPtc) they shall bow down H7812 (HithImpf) to thee with their face H639 toward the earth, H776 and lick up H3897 (PielImpf) the dust H6083 of thy feet; H7272 and thou shalt know H3045 (QalPerf) that I am the Lord: H3068 for they shall not be ashamed H954 (QalImpf) that wait H6960 (QalActPtc) for me. [24] Shall the prey H4455 be taken H3947 (HophImpf) from the mighty, H1368 or the lawful H6662 captive H7628§ delivered? H4422 (NiphImpf) [25] But thus saith H559 (QalPerf) the Lord, H3068 Even the captives H7628§ of the mighty H1368 shall be taken away, H3947 (HophImpf) and the prey H4455 of the terrible H6184 shall be delivered: H4422 (NiphImpf) for I will contend H7378 (QalImpf) with him that contendeth H3401 with thee, and I will save H3467 (HiphImpf) thy children. H1121 [26] And I will feed H398 (HiphPerf) them that oppress H3238 (HiphPtc) thee with their own flesh; H1320 and they shall be drunken H7937 (QalImpf) with their own blood, H1818 as with sweet wine: H6071§ and all flesh H1320 shall know H3045 (QalPerf) that I the Lord H3068 am thy Saviour H3467 (HiphPtc) and thy Redeemer, H1350 (QalActPtc) the Mighty One H46 of Jacob. H3290Footnotes
- § 49:4 Or, my reward
- § 49:5 Or, that Israel may be gathered to him, and I may etc.
- § 49:6 Or, desolations
- § 49:7 Or, to him that is despised in soul
- § 49:8 Or, raise up
- § 49:15 Heb. from having compassion
- § 49:22 Heb. bosom
- § 49:23a Heb. nourishers
- § 49:23b Heb. Princesses
- § 49:24 Heb. the captivity of the just
- § 49:25 Heb. captivity
- § 49:26 Or, new wine
Byzantine Greek New Testament
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