49:1 Listen to me, you coastlands! 1
Pay attention, you people who live far away!
The Lord summoned me from birth; 2
he commissioned me when my mother brought me into the world. 3
49:2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
he hid me in the hollow of his hand;
he made me like a sharpened 4 arrow,
he hid me in his quiver. 5
49:3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, through whom I will reveal my splendor.” 6
49:4 But I thought, 7 “I have worked in vain;
I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.” 8
But the Lord will vindicate me;
my God will reward me. 9
49:5 So now the Lord says,
the one who formed me from birth 10 to be his servant –
he did this 11 to restore Jacob to himself,
so that Israel might be gathered to him;
and I will be honored 12 in the Lord’s sight,
for my God is my source of strength 13 –