The Servant of the Lord
1
Hear me, coastlands, listen, distant peoples.
Before birth the LORD called me, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.
2
He made my mouth like a sharp-edged sword, concealed me, shielded by his hand.
He made me a sharpened arrow, in his quiver he hid me.
3
He said to me, You are my servant, in you, Israel, I show my glory.
4
Though I thought I had toiled in vain, for nothing and for naught spent my strength,
Yet my right is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.
5
For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb,
That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him;
I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength!
6
It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and restore the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
7
Thus says the LORD, the redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
To the one despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers:
When kings see you, they shall stand up, and princes shall bow down
Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.