KJ3 Literal Translation
Isaiah 49
Christ, being sent to the Jews, complains against them. He is sent to the nations with gracious promises. Jehovah's love is perpetual to His people.
1Hear Me, isles, and you peoples from afar, and prick up your ear, Jehovah called Me from the womb; He mentioned My name from My mother's belly.
2And He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand, and made Me a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver;
3and said to Me, You are My servant, Israel, You in whom I shall be glorified.
4And I said, I have labored in vain; I have spent My strength for nothing, and in vain; yet surely My judgment is with Jehovah, and My work with My God.
5And now, says Jehovah the One forming Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him: Though Israel is not gathered, yet I am honored in the eye of Jehovah, and My God is My strength.
6And He said, It is but trifling that You should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the ones preserved of Israel; I will also give You for a light of the nations, that You may be My salvation to the end of the earth.
7So says Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, His Holy One, to the despised of soul, to the hated of the nation, the servant of rulers, Kings shall see and rise up; and rulers shall worship, because of Jehovah who is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel; and He elects You.
8So says Jehovah: In a favorable time I have answered You, and in a day of salvation I have helped You. And I will preserve You, and give You for a covenant of the people; to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolated inheritances;
9to say to the prisoners, Go out! To those who are in darkness, Be revealed. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all barren heights.
10They shall not hunger and not thirst; and the heat and sun shall not strike them. For He who has mercy on them shall lead them; and He shall guide them by the springs of water.
11And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be set on high.
12Behold, these shall come from afar; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
13Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; break out into singing, O mountains. For Jehovah has comforted His people and will have pity on His afflicted ones.
14But Zion said, Jehovah forsook me, and, My Lord forgot.
15Can a woman forget her suckling child, from pitying the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will surely not forget you.
16Behold, I have carved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are always before Me.
17Your sons hurry; those destroying you and ruining you shall go out from you.
18Lift up your eyes all around and see! They all gather and come to you. As I live, a statement of Jehovah, you shall surely wear all of them as an ornament, and bind them on as a bride.
19For your wastes and that desolated of you, and land of your destructions, for now shall be too narrow to live there; and they who swallow you shall be far away.
20The sons of your bereavement shall yet say in your ears, The place is too narrow for me; come near for me so that I may live.
21And you shall say in your heart, Who has borne these to me, for I am bereaved and barren, turned aside and an exile; who then has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone. These, From where are they?
22So says the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and will set up My banner to peoples. And they shall bring your sons in the bosom, and your daughters shall be lifted up on the shoulder.
23And kings shall be supporting you, and their princesses ones nursing you. They shall bow to you, faces down to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. And you shall know that I am Jehovah, by whom they who wait for Me shall not be ashamed.
24Shall the plunder be taken from a mighty one, and the captivity of the righteous one escape?
25But so says Jehovah, Even the captives of a mighty one shall be taken, and the plunder of the terrifying ones shall be delivered. For I will contend with him who contends with you; and I will save your sons.
26And I will make them eat their own flesh, those who oppress you; and they shall be drunk by their own blood, as with fresh wine. And all flesh shall know that I Jehovah am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
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