Isaias

Hebrew Bible

Hebrew Bible, Isaias, Ottley, Cambridge, 1904

XLIX. 1 Hearken, ye isles, to me, and listen, ye peoples, from afar; the Lord hath called me from the. womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

2 And he made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; and set me for a polished arrow; in his quiver be concealed me,

[*](15. i.e. ‘brought him’ into view, into prominence; or, on his)[*](16. The grammar admits the rendering ‘hath sent me and his Spirit’: the emphasis is strongly against it: most authorities support it, however, on theological grounds.)[*](18. Or, ‘wouldst hearken.)[*](19. ‘grains,’ or, ‘entrails,’ of the sea, i.e. the ﬁshes.)

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

4 And I said, I have laboured in vain, for waste and vanity have I consumed my strength; surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.

5 And now, saith the Lord, that formed me from the womb for a servant to him, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be not swept away—and I shall be honoured in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my—

6 And he said, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; and I will give thee for a light of the nations, that my salvation may be to the end of the earth.

7 Thus saith the Lord, the redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to the despised of soul, to the abhorred of a nation, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall bow themselves; for the sake of the LORD, that is faithful; the Holy One of Israel, and he hath chosen thee.

8 Thus saith the Lord, In a time of favour have I answered 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 raise up the land, to allot the desolate allotments,

9 Saying tothe captives, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights is their feeding place.

[*](4. ‘laboured’: or. wearied myself. Usual word, mishpat, for ‘judgment’: meaning here. ‘my ’ or ‘my rightful reward.’)[*](5. ‘and that Israel...’: Heb. margin, ‘and that Israel be gathered him ’—doubt between readings ‘not’ and ‘to him,’ as in ix. 3 alike).)[*](6 ﬁn. Or, ‘to be my salvation to . . . earth.)[*](9 init. Or, ‘To say to the captives . . .)

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10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; and the burning sand and sun shall not smite them; for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, and by springs of water shall he guide them.

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

12 Behold, these shall come from afar; and behold, these from the north and from the sea; and these from the land of Sinim.

13 Sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth; and break forth into, singing, ye mountains; for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.