Called From the Womb
Listen closely, house of Israel—all of you who’ve been scattered and driven out because your leaders failed you. All of you who’ve been torn from your homeland and spread across the world, listen. You distant shores, hear me. The Lord called me before I was born. Even in my mother’s womb, he spoke my name. He made my words sharp as a sword. He hid me in the shadow of his hand and shaped me like a polished arrow, kept safe in his quiver. He said to me: “You are my servant, Israel. Through you I will show my glory.”
But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing. I’ve poured out my strength and gotten nowhere.” Still, I know the Lord will judge me fairly, and my God holds my work in his hands. Now the Lord speaks—the one who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him. Even if Israel isn’t gathered, I will still be honored in the Lord’s eyes, and my God will be my strength. He said: “It’s not enough for you to be my servant just to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel. I’m making you a light to the nations, so my salvation can reach the ends of the earth.”
This is what the Lord says—the Redeemer of Israel, the Holy One—to the one despised by people, hated by nations, enslaved by rulers: “Kings will see you and stand up. Princes will bow down, because the Lord is faithful.”
The Day of Rescue
This is what the Lord says: “At just the right time, I heard you, you distant shores. On the day of rescue, I helped you. I will protect you and make you my servant, a promise to the people. You’ll rebuild the land and reclaim what was left in ruins. You’ll tell the prisoners, “Come out!” You’ll tell those sitting in darkness, “Step into the light!” They’ll graze along the roads, and find pasture even on barren hills. They won’t go hungry or thirsty. The scorching heat won’t touch them. The one who has mercy on them will lead them to springs of water and guide them there. I’ll level my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up.
Look, house of Israel—they’ll come from far away. Some from the north, some from the west, and some from the land of Sinim. Sing, you heavens! Celebrate, earth! Those who’ve walked in the east will stand strong again. Break into song, you mountains! They won’t be struck down anymore—the Lord has comforted his people and will show mercy to those who’ve suffered.
Never Forgotten
But Zion says, “The Lord has abandoned me. My Lord has forgotten me.” He’ll show that this isn’t true. Can a mother forget the baby nursing at her breast? Could she stop caring for the child she carried? Even if she could forget, I will never forget you, house of Israel. I’ve carved you into the palms of my hands. Your walls are always before my eyes.
Your children will come quickly. Those who destroyed you and left you in ruins will leave you alone. Look around you. See how they’re all gathering and coming to you? As surely as I live, says the Lord, you’ll wear them like jewelry, like a bride putting on her wedding dress.
Your ruined and desolate places, your destroyed land—it’ll be too crowded now with all the people living there. Those who tried to swallow you up will be far away. The children born to you after you lost everything will say to you, “This place is too small for us. We need more room.” Then you’ll wonder, “Who gave me all these children? I lost my family. I was alone, exiled, wandering from place to place. Who raised these kids? I was left by myself. Where did they all come from?”
A Promise of Restoration
This is what the Lord God says: “I will signal to the nations and raise my banner to the peoples. They’ll bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. Kings will care for you like fathers, and queens will nurse you like mothers. They’ll bow down before you with their faces to the ground and humble themselves at your feet. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord. Those who wait for me will never be disappointed.”
Can treasure be taken from warriors? Can captives be freed from the powerful? But this is what the Lord says: “Even captives held by warriors will be taken away. Even treasure seized by tyrants will be freed. I will fight against anyone who fights you, and I will rescue your children. I will make your oppressors destroy themselves. They’ll be drunk on their own blood like it’s sweet wine. Then everyone will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”