| 49 | Isaiah | Passage |
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| 1 |
Coasts and islands, listen to me, pay attention, distant peoples. Yahweh called me when I was in the womb, before my birth he had pronounced my name. |
Israel - a light to the nations. Is.49.1-7
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| 2 |
He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow and concealed me in his quiver. |
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| 3 |
He said to me, 'Israel, you are my servant, through whom I shall manifest my glory.' |
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| 4 |
But I said, 'My toil has been futile, I have exhausted myself for nothing, to no purpose.' Yet all the while my cause was with Yahweh and my reward with my God. |
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| 5 |
And now Yahweh has spoken, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him and to re-unite Israel to him;-I shall be honoured in Yahweh's eyes, and my God has been my strength.- |
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| 6 |
He said, 'It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I shall make you a light to the nations so that my salvation may reach the remotest parts of earth.' |
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| 7 |
Thus says Yahweh, the redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, to the one who is despised, detested by the nation, to the slave of despots: Kings will stand up when they see, princes will see and bow low, because of Yahweh who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you. |
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| 8 |
Thus says Yahweh: At the time of my favour I have answered you, on the day of salvation I have helped you. I have formed you and have appointed you to be the covenant for a people, to restore the land, to return ravaged properties, |
The restoration of Jerusalem. Is.49.8-50.3
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| 9 |
to say to prisoners, 'Come out,' to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' Along the roadway they will graze, and any bare height will be their pasture. |
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| 10 |
They will never hunger or thirst, scorching wind and sun will never plague them; for he who pities them will lead them, will guide them to springs of water. |
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| 11 |
I shall turn all my mountains into a road and my highways will be raised aloft. |
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| 12 |
Look! Here they come from far away, look, these from the north and the west, those from the land of Sinim. |
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| 13 |
Shout for joy, you heavens; earth, exult! Mountains, break into joyful cries! For Yahweh has consoled his people, is taking pity on his afflicted ones. |
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| 14 |
Zion was saying, 'Yahweh has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me.' |
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| 15 |
Can a woman forget her baby at the breast, feel no pity for the child she has borne? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you. |
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| 16 |
Look, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your ramparts are ever before me. |
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| 17 |
Your rebuilders are hurrying, your destroyers and despoilers will soon go away. |
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| 18 |
Raise your eyes and look around you: all are assembling, coming to you. By my life, declares Yahweh, you will put them all on like jewels, like a bride, you will fasten them on. |
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| 19 |
For your desolate places and your ruins and your devastated country from now on will be too cramped for your inhabitants, and your devourers will be far away. |
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| 20 |
Once more they will say in your hearing, the children of whom you were bereft, 'The place is too cramped for me, make room for me to live.' |
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| 21 |
Then you will think to yourself, 'Who has borne me these? I was bereft and barren, exiled, turned out of my home; who has reared these? I was left all alone, so where have these come from?' |
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| 22 |
Thus says Lord Yahweh: Look, I am beckoning to the nations and hoisting a signal to the peoples: they will bring your sons in their arms and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. |
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| 23 |
Kings will be your foster-fathers and their princesses, your foster-mothers. They will fall prostrate before you, faces to the ground, and lick the dust at your feet. And you will know that I am Yahweh; those who hope in me will not be disappointed. |
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| 24 |
Can the body be snatched from the warrior, can the tyrant's captive be set free? |
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| 25 |
But thus says Yahweh: The warrior's captive will indeed be snatched away and the tyrant's booty will indeed be set free; I myself shall fight those who fight you and I myself shall save your children. |
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| 26 |
I shall make your oppressors eat their own flesh, they will be as drunk on their own blood as on new wine. And all humanity will know that I am Yahweh, your Saviour, your redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. |
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