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The Lord is the one who made me in my mother’s womb,
    so that I could be his servant.
    He wanted me to lead Jacob and Israel back to him.
The Lord gives me honor.
    I get my strength from my God.

And now he says, “You are a very important servant to me.
    You must bring back to me the tribes of Jacob.
    You must bring back the people of Israel who are still alive.
But I have something else for you to do that is even more important:
    I will make you a light for the other nations.
    You will show people all over the world the way to be saved.”

The Lord, the Holy Protector of Israel, speaks to his servant.
    People hate that servant.
Nations despise him.
    He is now a slave to rulers.
The Lord says to him,
    “Kings will see you and stand to honor you.
    Great leaders will bow down to you.”

This will happen for the Lord. The Holy One of Israel is the one who chose you, and he can be trusted.

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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