1Listen, O isles, to me, and hearken, O peoples, from far: YHWH called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mother he made mention of my name;
2And he made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; and he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he concealed me;
3And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
4But I said, "In vain I have toiled, for emptiness and vanity I have spent my strength; yet surely my judgment (mishpat) is with YHWH, and my recompense with my God."
5And now says YHWH, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel be gathered to him — for I am honored in the eyes of YHWH, and my God has become my strength —
6And he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation (yeshuah) may reach to the end of the earth."
7Thus says YHWH, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One, to him despised of soul (nephesh), to him abhorred of the nation, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes, and they shall bow down; because of YHWH who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, and he has chosen you.
8Thus says YHWH, "In a time of favor I have answered you, and in a day of salvation (yeshuah) I have helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you as a covenant (berit) of the people, to raise up the land, to apportion the desolate heritages;
9saying to the prisoners, 'Go forth,' to those in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' Along the ways they shall feed, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.
10They shall not hunger nor thirst, neither shall heat nor sun smite them; for he who has compassion on them will lead them, and by springs of water he will guide them.
11And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be raised up.
12Behold, these shall come from far; and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim.
13Sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains; for YHWH has comforted his people, and on his afflicted he has compassion.
14But Zion said, "YHWH has forsaken me, and my Lord (Adonai) has forgotten me."
15Can a woman (ishah) forget her suckling child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
16Behold, on the palms of my hands I have graven you; your walls are continually before me.
17Your children make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste shall go forth from you.
18Lift up your eyes round about and see: all of them gather together, they come to you. As I live (chai), says YHWH, you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and gird yourself with them like a bride.
19For your waste places and your desolate places and the land of your ruin — surely now you shall be too narrow for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up shall be far away.
20Yet the children of your bereavement shall say in your ears, "The place is too narrow for me; make room for me that I may dwell."
21Then you shall say in your heart, "Who has begotten me these, seeing I was bereaved and barren, an exile and wandering? And who has brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?"
22Thus says my Lord (Adonai) YHWH, "Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and to the peoples I will raise up my standard; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried upon the shoulder.
23And kings shall be your foster-fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; with faces to the earth they shall bow down to you, and the dust (aphar) of your feet they shall lick; and you shall know that I am YHWH, and those who wait for me shall not be ashamed."
24Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captive of the righteous be delivered?
25For thus says YHWH, "Even the captive of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant shall be delivered; and I myself will contend with him who contends with you, and I myself will save your children.
26And I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh (basar), and as with sweet wine they shall be drunken with their own blood; and all flesh (basar) shall know that I YHWH am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."