Isaiah 49

All 26 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Listen to me, you distant islands! Pay attention, you faraway nations! The LORD called me before I was born — while I was still in my mother's womb, he spoke my name.
2. 2He made my mouth like a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me a polished arrow and hid me in his quiver.
3. 3He told me, "You are my servant, Israel, and through you I will display my glory."
4. 4But I said, "I've worked for nothing. I've used up all my strength and have nothing to show for it." Even so, my case is in the LORD's hands, and my reward is with my God.
5. 5And now the LORD says—the one who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him—Though Israel is not gathered, yet I will be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God will be my strength.
6. 6He says, "It is a small thing for you to be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel. I will also make you a light to the Gentiles, so that you may be my salvation to the ends of the earth."
7. 7The LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, speaks to the one whom people despise, whom the nation abhors, and who is a servant of rulers: Kings will see and arise, and princes will also worship, because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose you.
8. 8This is what the LORD says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. I will preserve you and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages."
9. 9so that you may say to the prisoners, "Go out," and to those who are in darkness, "Show yourselves." They will feed along the roads, and their pastures will be on all the high places.
10. 10They will not hunger or thirst, and neither the heat nor the sun will strike them. The one who has mercy on them will lead them and guide them beside springs of water.
11. 11I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up.
12. 12Look! They will come from far away — some from the north, some from the west, and some from the land of Sinim."
13. 13Sing for joy, heavens! Celebrate, earth! Break out in song, mountains! The LORD has comforted his people and will have mercy on those who are suffering.
14. 14But Zion said, "The LORD has abandoned me. The Lord has forgotten me."
15. 15"Can a mother forget the baby nursing at her breast? Can she feel no compassion for the child she carried in her womb? Even if she could forget, I will never forget you!
16. 16Look — I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are always right in front of me.
17. 17Your children are rushing back to you, and those who destroyed you and left you in ruins will leave.
18. 18"Lift up your eyes all around and look: all these gather themselves together and come to you. As I live," says the LORD, "you will surely clothe yourself with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on yourself, as a bride does."
19. 19"Your ruined and devastated land, your destroyed territory — it will soon be too crowded for all the people living there, and those who devoured you will be long gone.
20. 20The children born during your time of loss will say to you, 'This place is too small for us! Make room so we can live here.'
21. 21Then you will wonder in your heart, 'Who gave me all these children? I lost my children. I was alone, exiled, and wandering. Who raised them? I was left by myself — so where did they all come from?'"
22. 22The Lord GOD says, "Watch — I will raise my hand to signal the nations and lift my banner for the peoples. They will carry your sons in their arms and bring your daughters on their shoulders.
23. 23Kings will be like foster fathers to you, and queens will be like nursing mothers. They will bow before you with their faces to the ground and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD, for those who wait for me will not be ashamed.
24. 24Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or can the lawful captives be freed?
25. 25But the LORD says, 'Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the prey of the terrible will be delivered. I will fight with those who fight against you, and I will save your children.'
26. 26I will force your oppressors to eat their own flesh, and they will be drunk on their own blood as if it were wine. Then everyone on earth will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer — the Mighty One of Jacob."