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Even before I was born,
    the Lord God chose me
to serve him and to lead back
    the people of Israel.
So the Lord has honored me
    and made me strong.

(A) Now the Lord says to me,
“It isn't enough for you
    to be merely my servant.
You must do more than lead back
survivors from the tribes
    of Israel.
I have placed you here as a light
    for other nations;
you must take my saving power
    to everyone on earth.”

The Lord Will Rescue His People

Israel, I am the holy Lord God,
    the one who rescues you.
You are slaves of rulers
and of a nation
    who despises you.[a]
Now this is what I promise:
Kings and rulers will honor you
    by kneeling at your feet.
You can trust me! I am your Lord,
the holy God of Israel,
    and you are my chosen ones.

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Footnotes

  1. 49.7 You … you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb(A) to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel(B) to himself,
for I am[a] honored(C) in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength(D)
he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant(E)
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.(F)
I will also make you a light(G) for the Gentiles,(H)
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”(I)

This is what the Lord says—
    the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel(J)
to him who was despised(K) and abhorred by the nation,
    to the servant of rulers:
“Kings(L) will see you and stand up,
    princes will see and bow down,(M)
because of the Lord, who is faithful,(N)
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen(O) you.”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:5 Or him, / but Israel would not be gathered; / yet I will be