But I said, “I have labored in vain;(A)
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,(B)
    and my reward(C) is with my God.”(D)

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

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

Restoration of Israel

This is what the Lord says:

“In the time of my favor(T) I will answer you,
    and in the day of salvation I will help you;(U)
I will keep(V) you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people,(W)
to restore the land(X)
    and to reassign its desolate inheritances,(Y)

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Footnotes

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

Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

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