Isaiah

Prophecies about judgment and salvation, promising hope and a savior.

Chapter 49

1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

*Listen, islands, to me; and pay attention, people far away; The LORD chose me since I was in my mother's belly; He talked about my name while I was still in her womb.

2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

*He has made my mouth like a sharp sword. In the shadow of his hand, he has hidden me and turned me into a polished arrow. He has hidden me in his quiver.

3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

*He told me, "You are my special helper, Israel, through whom I will be honored."

4 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.

*Then I realized that all my hard work was for nothing, and I used up my energy for no reason. But still, I know that my situation is in the hands of the Lord, and my efforts are with God.

5 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 now, says the Lord who created me in my mother's womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him even if Israel is not united, I will still be honored in the Lord's sight, and my God will be my source of power.

6 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.

*He said, "It's not hard for you to serve me by bringing back the tribes of Jacob and helping the people of Israel. I will also make you a light for non-Jews, so you can save them all around the world."

7 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.

*The Lord, Israel's Redeemer and Holy One, speaks to someone others disregard. Nations reject this person, but rulers and kings will rise and princes will worship because of the Lord's faithfulness and the Holy One of Israel. The Lord will choose you.

8 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;

*So says the Lord, In the right time, I listened to you, and on a day of saving, I helped you. I will protect you and give you as a promise to the people to stabilize the Earth, and let them possess the empty lands.

9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

*So you can tell prisoners to leave, and those in darkness to come out. They will graze in open areas, and their food will be found everywhere on the hills.

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

*They won't be hungry or thirsty, and the sun and heat won't harm them. Someone kind will guide them, and will lead them to water sources.

11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

*I will turn all my hills into paths, and my roads will be raised up.

12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

*Look, people will come from very far away. Some will come from the north and some from the west. And others will come from a place called the land of Sinim.

13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

*Heaven, Earth, and mountains, sing with joy! The Lord has brought comfort to his people and will show kindness to those who are hurting.

14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

*But Zion said, God has left me, and my ruler has forgotten me.

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

*Can a mother forget the baby she nursed? Shouldn't she feel sympathy for the child from her womb? Yes, they might forget, but I, God, won't forget you.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

*Look, I have written your name on the palm of my hand; you're always in front of me.

17 Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.

*Your children will act quickly; those who destroyed you and caused your ruin will leave you.

18 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

*Look around you and see: all these people are coming to you. The Lord promises that you will wear them like decorations and tie them to you, just like a bride does.

19 For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.

*For your empty lands and ruined areas, and the land where you were destroyed, will soon not have enough space because of all the people living there. Those who took you over will be far away.

20 The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.

*The new children you have will tell you, when you've lost the others, "There isn't enough space; make room so I can live here."

21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

*Then you will think in your mind, Who gave me these kids when I've lost mine and feel lonely, captured, and constantly moving? And who raised them? Look, I was all alone; where did these come from?

22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

*So says the Lord God, I will raise my hand to all non-Jewish people and display my banner to the public. They will carry your children in their arms, and your daughters will be carried on their shoulders.

23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

*Kings will act like caring fathers to you, and queens will be like nurturing mothers. They'll bow down with their faces towards the ground, licking the dust from your feet. You'll understand that God is in control because they won't feel embarrassed while waiting for Him.

24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?

*Will the weak person be saved, or the one who follows the rules be set free?

25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

*But God says, those held captive by powerful people will be freed, and the possessions of the fearsome will be rescued. I will fight against those who oppose you, and I will save your children.

26 And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

*I will make those who treat you badly eat their own flesh, and they'll get drunk on their own blood like sweet wine. Everyone will realize that I, the Lord, am your savior and redeemer, the powerful God of Jacob.

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