主的仆人
1众海岛啊，听我说！
远方的众民啊，要留心听！
我还没有出生，
耶和华就呼召我；
我还没有离开母腹，
祂就点我的名。
2祂使我的口像利剑，
用祂的手护庇我；
祂使我成为磨亮的箭，
把我藏在祂的箭囊中。
3祂对我说：“以色列啊，
你是我的仆人，
我要借着你彰显我的荣耀。”
4但我说：“我虚耗精力，
徒劳无功。
然而，耶和华必公正地待我，
我的报酬在我的上帝那里。”
5我在母腹之中，耶和华便塑造我做祂的仆人，
叫我领雅各归向祂，
把以色列人召集到祂那里。
我在耶和华眼中是尊贵的，
我的上帝是我的力量。
6祂对我说：“我不仅要你做我的仆人，
去复兴雅各的众支派，
使以色列的余民重归故土，
我还要使你成为外族人的光，
好把我的救恩带到地极。”
7以色列的救赎主和圣者——耶和华对受藐视、
被本国人憎恨、
遭官长奴役的那位说：
“因为拣选你的以色列的圣者耶和华是信实的，
君王必在你面前肃然起立，
首领必在你面前俯伏下拜。”
以色列的复兴
8耶和华说：
“在悦纳的时候，我应允了你；
在拯救的日子，我帮助了你。
我要保护你，
使你做我跟民众立约的中保，
复兴家园，
分配荒凉的产业。
9你要对被囚禁的人说，
‘出来吧！’
要对暗牢中的人说，
‘你们自由了。’
他们在路上必有吃的，
光秃的山岭必有食物。
10他们不再饥渴，
也不再被热风和烈日灼伤，
因为怜悯他们的那位必引导他们，
领他们到泉水边。
11我要使我的群山变为通途，
修筑我的大路。
12看啊，他们必从远方来，
有的来自北方，有的来自西方，
还有的来自希尼49:12 “希尼”可能指遥远的东方或南方某地。。”
13诸天啊，要欢呼！
大地啊，要快乐！
群山啊，要歌唱！
因为耶和华必安慰祂的子民，
怜悯祂受苦的百姓。
14但锡安说：“耶和华撇弃了我，
主把我忘了。”
15耶和华说：“母亲岂能忘记自己吃奶的婴儿，
不怜悯自己亲生的孩子？
就算有母亲忘记，
我也不会忘记你。
16看啊，我已经把你铭刻在我的手掌上，
你的墙垣在我的看顾之下。
17你的儿女必很快回来，
毁灭和破坏你的必离你而去。
18举目四下看看吧，
你的儿女正聚集到你这里。
我凭我的永恒起誓，
你必把他们作为饰物戴在身上，
如新娘一样用他们妆扮自己。
这是耶和华说的。
19“你那曾经荒废、凄凉、
遭到毁坏之地现在必容不下你的居民，
那些吞灭你的人必远远地离开你。
20你流亡期间所生的子女必在你耳边说，
‘这地方太小了，
再给我们一些地方住吧。’
21你会在心里问，‘我丧失了儿女、
不再生育、流亡在外、漂流不定，
谁给我生了这些儿女？
谁把他们养大？
我孤身一人，
他们是从哪里来的？’”
22主耶和华说：
“我必向列国招手，
向万民竖立我的旗帜，
他们必抱着你的儿子、
背着你的女儿回来。
23列王必做你的养父，
王后必做你的褓姆。
他们必向你俯伏下拜，
舔你脚上的尘土。
那时你便知道我是耶和华，
信靠我的必不致失望。”
24勇士抢去的能夺回来吗？
暴君掳走的能救回来吗？
25但耶和华说：
“勇士掳去的必被夺回，
暴君抢去的必被救出。
我必与你的敌人争战，
拯救你的儿女。
26我要使那些欺压你的人吞吃自己的肉，
喝自己的血喝得酩酊大醉，
好像喝酒一样。
那时候，世人都必知道我耶和华是你的救主，
是你的救赎主，
是雅各的大能者。”
The Servant of the Lord
1People who live on the islands, listen to me.
Pay attention, you nations far away.
Before I was born the Lord chose me to serve him.
Before I was born the Lord spoke my name.
2He made my words like a sharp sword.
He hid me in the palm of his hand.
He made me into a sharpened arrow.
He took good care of me and kept me safe.
3He said to me, “You are my true servant Israel.
I will show my glory through you.”
4But I said, “In spite of my hard work,
I feel as if I haven’t accomplished anything.
I’ve used up all my strength.
It seems as if everything I’ve done is worthless.
But the Lord will give me what I should receive.
My God will reward me.”
5The Lord formed me in my mother’s body to be his servant.
He wanted me to bring the family of Jacob back to him.
He wanted me to gather the people of Israel to himself.
The Lord will honor me.
My God will give me strength.
6Here is what the Lord says to me.
“It is not enough for you as my servant
to bring the tribes of Jacob back to their land.
It is not enough for you to bring back
the people of Israel I have kept alive.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles.
Then you will make it possible for the whole world to be saved.”
7The Lord sets his people free.
He is the Holy One of Israel.
He speaks to his servant, who is looked down on and hated by the nations.
He speaks to the servant of rulers. He says to him,
“Kings will see you and stand up to honor you.
Princes will see you and bow down to show you their respect.
I am the Lord. I am faithful.
I am the Holy One of Israel.
I have chosen you.”
Israel Is Brought Back to Their Land
8The Lord says to his servant,
“When it is time to have mercy on you, I will answer your prayers.
When it is time to save you, I will help you.
I will keep you safe.
You will put into effect my covenant with the people of Israel.
Then their land will be made like new again.
Each tribe will be sent back to its territory that was left empty.
9I want you to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out.’
Tell those who are in their dark cells, ‘You are free!’
“On their way home they will eat beside the roads.
They will find plenty to eat on every bare hill.
10They will not get hungry or thirsty.
The heat from the desert sun will not beat down on them.
The God who has tender love for them will guide them.
Like a shepherd, he will lead them beside springs of water.
11I will make roads across the mountains.
I will build wide roads for my people.
12They will come from far away.
Some of them will come from the north.
Others will come from the west.
Still others will come from Aswan in the south.”
13Shout for joy, you heavens!
Be glad, you earth!
Burst into song, you mountains!
The Lord will comfort his people.
He will show his tender love to those who are suffering.
14But the city of Zion said, “The Lord has deserted me.
The Lord has forgotten me.”
15The Lord answers, “Can a mother forget the baby
who is nursing at her breast?
Can she stop having tender love
for the child who was born to her?
She might forget her child.
But I will not forget you.
16I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Your walls are never out of my sight.
17Your people will hurry back.
Those who destroyed you so completely will leave you.
18Look up. Look all around you.
All your people are getting together
to come back to you.
You can be sure that I live,”
announces the Lord.
“And you can be just as sure that your people
will be like decorations you will wear.
Like a bride, you will wear them proudly.
19“Zion, you were destroyed. Your land was left empty.
It was turned into a dry and empty desert.
But now you will be too small to hold all your people.
And those who destroyed you will be far away.
20The children born during your time of sorrow
will speak to you. They will say,
‘This city is too small for us.
Give us more space to live in.’
21Then you will say to yourself,
‘Whose children are these?
I lost my children.
And I couldn’t have any more.
My children were taken far away from me.
And no one wanted them.
Who brought these children up?
I was left all alone.
So where have these children come from?’ ”
22The Lord and King continues,
“I will call out to the nations.
I will give a signal to them.
They will bring back your sons in their arms.
They will carry your daughters on their hips.
23Their kings will become like fathers to you.
Their queens will be like mothers who nurse you.
They will bow down to you with their faces toward the ground.
They will kiss the dust at your feet to show you their respect.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.
Those who put their hope in me will not be ashamed.”
24Can goods that were stolen by soldiers be taken away from them?
Can prisoners be set free from the powerful Babylonians?
25“Yes, they can,” the Lord answers.
“Prisoners will be taken away from soldiers.
Stolen goods will be taken back from the powerful Babylonians.
Zion, I will fight against those who fight against you.
And I will save your people.
26I will make those who treat you badly eat the flesh of others.
They will drink blood and get drunk on it as if it were wine.
Then everyone on earth will know
that I am the one who saves you.
I am the Lord. I set you free.
I am the Mighty One of Jacob.”
