1 Everyone, listen,even you foreign nationsacross the sea.The Lord chose meand gave me a namebefore I was born.
2 He made my words piercelike a sharp swordor a pointed arrow;he kept me safely hiddenin the palm of his hand.
3 The Lord said to me,“Israel, you are my servant;and because of youI will be highly honoured.”
4 I said to myself,“I'm completely worn out;my time has been wasted.But I did it for the Lord God,and he will reward me.”
5 Even before I was born,the Lord God chose meto serve him and to lead backthe people of Israel.So the Lord has honoured meand made me strong.
6 Now the Lord says to me,“It isn't enough for youto be merely my servant.You must do more than lead backsurvivors from the tribesof Israel.I have placed you here as a lightfor other nations;you must take my saving powerto everyone on earth.”
7 Israel, I am the holy Lord God,the one who rescues you.You are slaves of rulersand of a nationwho despises you.Now this is what I promise:kings and rulers will honour youby kneeling at your feet.You can trust me! I am your Lord,the holy God of Israel,and you are my chosen ones.
8 This is what the Lord says:I will answer your prayersbecause I have set a timewhen I will helpby coming to save you.I have chosen youto take my promise of hopeto other nations.You will rebuild the countryfrom its ruins,then people will comeand settle there.
9 You will set prisoners freefrom dark dungeonsto see the light of day.On their way home,they will find plenty to eat,even on barren hills.
10 They won't go hungryor get thirsty;they won't be botheredby the scorching sunor hot desert winds.I will be mercifulwhile leading them alongto streams of water.
11 I will level the mountainsand make roads.
12 Then my people will returnfrom distant landsin the north and the westand from the city of Syene.
13 Tell the heavens and the earthto celebrate and sing;command every mountainto join in the song.The Lord's people have suffered,but he has shown mercyand given them comfort.
14 The people of Zion said,“The Lord has turned awayand forgotten us.”
15 The Lord answered,“Could a mother forget a childwho nurses at her breast?Could she fail to love an infantwho came from her own body?Even if a mother could forget,I will never forget you.
16 A picture of your cityis drawn on my hand.You are always in my thoughts!
17 “Your city will be built fasterthan it was destroyed—those who attacked itwill retreat and leave.
18 Look around! You will seeyour people coming home.As surely as I live,I, the Lord, promisethat your city with its peoplewill be as lovely as a bridewearing her jewellery.”
19 Jerusalem is now in ruins!Nothing is left of the city.But it will be rebuiltand soon overcrowded;its cruel enemieswill be gone far away.
20 Jerusalem is a womanwhose children were bornwhile she was in deep sorrowover the loss of her husband.Now those childrenwill come and seek roomin the crowded city,
21 and Jerusalem will ask,“Am I really their mother?How could I have given birthwhen I was still mourningin a foreign land?Who raised these children?Where have they come from?”
22 The Lord God says:“I will soon give a signalfor the nationsto return your sonsand your daughtersto the arms of Jerusalem.
23 The kings and queensof those nationswhere they were raisedwill come and bow down.They will take care of youjust like a slavetaking care of a child.Then you will knowthat I am the Lord.You won't be disappointedif you trust me.”
24 Is it possible to rescue victimsfrom someone strongand cruel?
25 But the Lord has promisedto fight on our sideand to rescue our childrenfrom those strongand violent enemies.
26 He will make those cruel peopledine on their own fleshand get drunk from drinkingtheir own blood.Then everyone will knowthat the Lord is our Saviour;the powerful God of Israelhas rescued his people.