1Listen to me, islands. Listen, distant nations: Yahweh called me before I was born; he named me while I was still in my mother's womb.
2He made my mouth like a sharp sword and hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me like a polished arrow and kept me safe in his quiver.
3He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, through whom I will be glorified."
4But I said, "I have worked in vain. I have used up my strength for nothing. Yet, my rightful reward is with Yahweh, and my payment is with my God."
5Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and to gather Israel to him (for I am honored in Yahweh's eyes, and my God has become my strength),
6Indeed, he says, "It is too small a task for you to be my servant merely to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel. I will also make you a light to the nations, so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
7Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, says to him whom people despise, whom the nation hates, to a servant of rulers: "Kings will see and stand up; princes will worship because of Yahweh, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
8Yahweh says, "At a favorable time I answered you, and on a day of salvation I helped you. I will protect you and make you a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to give them back their desolate inheritance.
9I will say to those who are captive, 'Come out!' and to those in darkness, 'Show yourselves!' They will feed along the roads, and their pastures will be on all the barren hills.
10They will not be hungry or thirsty, nor will the scorching heat or sun harm them, for the one who has mercy on them will lead them. He will guide them to springs of water.
11I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up.
12Look, some will come from far away; others from the north and the west; and still others from the land of Sinim."
13Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and burst into song, mountains: for Yahweh has comforted his people and will have compassion on his suffering ones.
14But Zion said, "Yahweh has abandoned me; the Lord has forgotten me."
15"Can a mother forget the baby she is nursing? Can she lack compassion for the child she bore? Even if they could forget, I will not forget you!
16Look, I have carved your name on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always in My sight.
17Your children are coming quickly. Those who destroyed you and made you desolate will leave you.
18Look all around you and see: all these people are gathering and coming to you. As surely as I live," says Yahweh, "you will wear them all like jewelry, and put them on like a bride.
19"Even though your land was ruined and desolate, your destroyed country will now be too small for its people, and those who swallowed you up will be far away.
20Your children, whom you thought were lost, will say to you, 'This place is too small for me. Give me a place to live.'
21Then you will think to yourself, 'Who gave me these children? I had lost all my children, I was alone, exiled, and wandering. Who raised these? I was left by myself. Where did these come from?'
22The Lord Yahweh says, 'Look, I will signal to the nations and wave my banner to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.'
23Kings will take care of you like fathers, and queens like mothers who nurse you. They will bow down to you with their faces to the ground and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am Yahweh; and those who wait for me will not be disappointed.
24Can what was stolen from the strong be taken back? Can captives held legally be set free?
25But Yahweh says, 'Even the captives of the strong will be taken away, and what was stolen from the fierce will be retrieved. For I will fight against anyone who fights against you, and I will save your children.'
26I will make those who oppress you eat their own flesh, and they will be drunk on their own blood, as if it were sweet wine. Then everyone will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.