Isaiæ 49
1 Audite insulae, et attendite populi de longe: Dominus ab utero vocavit me, de ventre matris meae recordatus est nominis mei.
Listen to me, you coastlands! Now give my your attention, you distant peoples. Yahweh has called me from birth by name, when my mother brought me into the world.
2 Et posuit os meum quasi gladium acutum: in umbra manus suae protexit me, et posuit me sicut sagittam electam: in pharetra sua abscondit me.
He has made my mouth like a sharp sword; he hid me in the shadow of his hand; he has made me into a polished arrow; in his quiver he has hidden me.
3 Et dixit mihi: Servus meus es tu Israel, quia in te gloriabor.
He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory.”
4 Et ego dixi: In vacuum laboravi, sine causa, et vane fortitudinem meam consumpsi: ergo iudicium meum cum Domino, et opus meum cum Deo meo.
But I replied, “Though I thought I have labored in vain, I have spent my energy for nothing, yet my justice is with Yahweh, and my reward is with my God.”
5 Et nunc dicit Dominus, formans me ex utero servum sibi, ut reducam Iacob ad eum, et Israel non congregabitur: et glorificatus sum in oculis Domini, et Deus meus factus est fortitudo mea.
Now Yahweh has spoken—he who formed me from birth to be his servant, to restore Jacob again to himself, so that Israel would be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh, and my God has become my strength—
6 Et dixit: Parum est ut sis mihi servus ad suscitandas tribus Iacob, et faeces Israel convertendas: Ecce dedi te in lucem Gentium, ut sis salus mea usque ad extremum terrae.
and he says, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the survivors of Israel. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
7 Haec dicit Dominus redemptor Israel, sanctus eius, ad contemptibilem animam, ad abominatam gentem, ad servum dominorum: Reges videbunt, et consurgent principes, et adorabunt propter Dominum, quia fidelis est, et sanctum Israel qui elegit te.
This is what Yahweh says, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to the one whose life is despised, hated by the nations, and a slave of rulers, “Kings will see you and arise, and princes will see you and bow down, because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
8 Haec dicit Dominus: In tempore placito exaudivi te, et in die salutis auxiliatus sum tui: et servavi te, et dedi te in foedus populi, ut suscitares terram, et possideres hereditates dissipatas:
This is what Yahweh says, “At a time I decide to show my favor I will answer you, and in a day of salvation I will help you; I will protect you, and give you as a covenant for the people, to rebuild the land, to reassign the desolate inheritance.
9 ut diceres his, qui vincti sunt: Exite: et his, qui in tenebris: Revelamini. Super vias pascentur, et in omnibus planis pascua eorum.
You will say to the prisoners, 'Come out;' to those in dark dungeons, 'Show yourselves.' They will graze along the roads, and on all the bare slopes will be their pasture.
10 Non esurient, neque sitient, et non percutiet eos aestus et sol: quia miserator eorum reget eos, et ad fontes aquarum potabit eos.
They will not be hungry or thirsty; nor will the heat or sun beat on them, for he who has mercy on them will lead them; he will guide them to springs of water.
11 Et ponam omnes montes meos in viam, et semitae meae exaltabuntur.
Then I will make all my mountains into a road, and make my highways level.”
12 Ecce isti de longe venient, et ecce illi ab Aquilone et mari, et isti de terra australi.
Look, these will come from far away, some from the north and the west; and others from the land of Sinim.
13 Laudate caeli, et exulta terra, iubilate montes laudem: quia consolatus est Dominus populum suum, et pauperum suorum miserebitur.
Sing, heavens, and be joyful, earth; break into singing, you mountains! For Yahweh comforts his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.
14 Et dixit Sion: Dereliquit me Dominus, et Dominus oblitus est mei.
But Zion said, “Yahweh has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.”
15 Numquid oblivisci potest mulier infantem suum, ut non misereatur filio uteri sui? et si illa oblita fuerit, ego tamen non obliviscar tui.
“Can a woman forget her baby, nursing at her breast, so she does not have compassion on the son she has borne? Yes, they may forget, but I will not forget you.
16 Ecce in manibus meis descripsi te: muri tui coram oculis meis semper.
Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms; your walls are continually before me.
17 Venerunt structores tui: destruentes te, et dissipantes a te exibunt.
Your children are hurrying back, while those who destroyed you are going away.
18 Leva in circuitu oculos tuos, et vide, omnes isti congregati sunt, venerunt tibi: vivo ego, dicit Dominus, quia omnibus his velut ornamento vestieris, et circumdabis tibi eos quasi sponsa.
Look around and see, they are all gathering and coming to you. As surely as I live—this is Yahweh's declaration—you will surely wear them like jewelry, and you will put them on like a bride.
19 Quia deserta tua, et solitudines tuae, et terra ruinae tuae nunc angusta erunt prae habitatoribus, et longe fugabuntur qui absorbebant te.
Though you were a waste and desolate, a land that was in ruins, now you will be too small for the inhabitants, and those who devoured you will be far away.
20 Adhuc dicent in auribus tuis filii sterilitatis tuae: Angustus est mihi locus, fac spatium mihi ut habitem.
The children born during the time of your bereavement will say in your hearing, 'The place is too cramped for us, make room for us, so we may live here.'
21 Et dices in corde tuo: Quis genuit mihi istos? ego sterilis, et non pariens, transmigrata, et captiva: et istos quis enutrivit? ego destituta et sola: et isti ubi hic erant?
Then you will ask yourself, 'Who has borne these children for me? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and divorced. Who has raised these children? Look, I was left all alone; where did these come from?'”
22 Haec dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce levabo ad Gentes manum meam, et ad populos exaltabo signum meum. Et afferent filios tuos in ulnis, et filias tuas super humeros portabunt.
This is what the Lord Yahweh says, “Look, I will raise my hand to the nations; I will raise my signal flag to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.
23 Et erunt reges nutritii tui, et reginae nutrices tuae: vultu in terram demisso adorabunt te, et pulverem pedum tuorum lingent. Et scies quia ego Dominus, super quo non confundentur qui expectant eum.
Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursemaids; they will bow down to you with their faces to the earth and lick the dust of your feet; and you will know that I am Yahweh; those who wait for me will not be put to shame.”
24 Numquid tolletur a forti praeda? aut quod captum fuerit a robusto, salvum esse poterit?
Can the spoils be taken from the warrior, or captives be rescued from the fierce?
25 Quia haec dicit Dominus: Equidem, et captivitas a forti tolletur: et quod ablatum fuerit a robusto, salvabitur. Eos vero, qui iudicaverunt te, ego iudicabo, et filios tuos ego salvabo.
But this is what Yahweh says, “Yes, the captives will be taken away from the warrior, and spoils will be rescued; for I will oppose your adversary and save your children.
26 Et cibabo hostes tuos carnibus suis: et quasi musto, sanguine suo inebriabuntur: et sciet omnis caro, quia ego Dominus salvans te, et redemptor tuus fortis Iacob.
I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh; and they will get drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine. Then all mankind will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
