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Isaiah 42:1-7
New Catholic Bible
Isaiah 42:1-7
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 42
The Mission of the Servant[a]
1 Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will establish justice among the nations.
2 He will not cry out or shout
or make his voice heard in the street.
3 He will not break a bruised reed,
nor will he snuff out a smoldering wick;
faithfully he will establish justice.
4 He will not falter or become discouraged
until he has established justice upon the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
5 Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who fashioned the earth and all that grows in it,
who gives breath to the people who dwell on it
and spirit to those who walk upon it:
6 I, the Lord, have called you for a righteous purpose;
I have taken you by the hand.
I have formed you and established you
to be a covenant to the people
and a light to the nations,
7 to open the eyes of the blind,
and to lead captives out of prison,
and to release from the dungeon
those who live in darkness.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 42:1 The repatriated Jews have toned down their enthusiasm, for they had not passed through a flowering wilderness; they were not many in number, and their return had not converted anyone. An unknown poet reawakens their hope while also giving a more spiritual cast to their dreams of glory. Beyond Cyrus, a temporary servant, God is preparing for himself a humble agent of salvation, filled with the spirit of the prophets. He will renew the covenant, make love shine forth in the midst of the people, and without violence will establish true justice. As a result, a very lofty idea of the liberator and of salvation is henceforth part of the Jewish consciousness. Jesus will accomplish the mission of this servant; Matthew cites verses 1-4 of this song (Mt 12:17-21); verse 1 echoes in the words of the Father as he presents Christ to the human race at the Jordan (Mt 3:17; Mk 1:11; Lk 3:23) and later on Tabor (Mt 17:5; Mk 9:7; Lk 9:35).
Isaiah 42:1-7
New International Version
Isaiah 42:1-7
New International Version
The Servant of the Lord
42 “Here is my servant,(A) whom I uphold,
my chosen one(B) in whom I delight;(C)
I will put my Spirit(D) on him,
and he will bring justice(E) to the nations.(F)
2 He will not shout or cry out,(G)
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed(H) he will not break,(I)
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.(J)
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;(K)
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice(L) on earth.
In his teaching(M) the islands(N) will put their hope.”(O)
5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens,(P) who stretches them out,
who spreads out the earth(Q) with all that springs from it,(R)
who gives breath(S) to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called(T) you in righteousness;(U)
I will take hold of your hand.(V)
I will keep(W) you and will make you
to be a covenant(X) for the people
and a light(Y) for the Gentiles,(Z)
7 to open eyes that are blind,(AA)
to free(AB) captives from prison(AC)
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.(AD)
New International Version (NIV) 
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