Through the Bible – Day 286

₁Everyone, listen,

even you foreign nations

across the sea.

The LORD chose me

and gave me a name

before I was born.

₂He made my words pierce

like a sharp sword

or a pointed arrow;

he kept me safely hidden

in the palm of his hand.

₃The LORD said to me,

“Israel, you are my servant;

and because of you

I will be highly honoured.”

₄I said to myself,

“I'm completely worn out;

my time has been wasted.

But I did it for the LORD God,

and he will reward me.”

₅Even before I was born,

the LORD God chose me

to serve him and to lead back

the people of Israel.

So the LORD has honoured me

and made me strong.

₆Now the LORD says to me,

“It isn't enough for you

to be merely my servant.

You must do more than lead back

survivors from the tribes

of Israel.

I have placed you here as a light

for other nations;

you must take my saving power

to everyone on earth.”

₇Israel, I am the holy LORD God,

the one who rescues you.

You are slaves of rulers

and of a nation

who despises you.

Now this is what I promise:

kings and rulers will honour you

by kneeling at your feet.

You can trust me! I am your LORD,

the holy God of Israel,

and you are my chosen ones.

₈This is what the LORD says:

I will answer your prayers

because I have set a time

when I will help

by coming to save you.

I have chosen you

to take my promise of hope

to other nations.

You will rebuild the country

from its ruins,

then people will come

and settle there.

₉You will set prisoners free

from dark dungeons

to see the light of day.

On their way home,

they will find plenty to eat,

even on barren hills.

₁₀They won't go hungry

or get thirsty;

they won't be bothered

by the scorching sun

or hot desert winds.

I will be merciful

while leading them along

to streams of water.

₁₁I will level the mountains

and make roads.

₁₂Then my people will return

from distant lands

in the north and the west

and from the city of Syene.

₁₃Tell the heavens and the earth

to celebrate and sing;

command every mountain

to join in the song.

The LORD's people have suffered,

but he has shown mercy

and given them comfort.

₁₄The people of Zion said,

“The LORD has turned away

and forgotten us.”

₁₅The LORD answered,

“Could a mother forget a child

who nurses at her breast?

Could she fail to love an infant

who came from her own body?

Even if a mother could forget,

I will never forget you.

₁₆A picture of your city

is drawn on my hand.

You are always in my thoughts!

₁₇“Your city will be built faster

than it was destroyed—

those who attacked it

will retreat and leave.

₁₈Look around! You will see

your people coming home.

As surely as I live,

I, the LORD, promise

that your city with its people

will be as lovely as a bride

wearing her jewellery.”

₁₉Jerusalem is now in ruins!

Nothing is left of the city.

But it will be rebuilt

and soon overcrowded;

its cruel enemies

will be gone far away.

₂₀Jerusalem is a woman

whose children were born

while she was in deep sorrow

over the loss of her husband.

Now those children

will come and seek room

in the crowded city,

₂₁and Jerusalem will ask,

“Am I really their mother?

How could I have given birth

when I was still mourning

in a foreign land?

Who raised these children?

Where have they come from?”

₂₂The LORD God says:

“I will soon give a signal

for the nations

to return your sons

and your daughters

to the arms of Jerusalem.

₂₃The kings and queens

of those nations

where they were raised

will come and bow down.

They will take care of you

just like a slave

taking care of a child.

Then you will know

that I am the LORD.

You won't be disappointed

if you trust me.”

₂₄Is it possible to rescue victims

from someone strong

and cruel?

₂₅But the LORD has promised

to fight on our side

and to rescue our children

from those strong

and violent enemies.

₂₆He will make those cruel people

dine on their own flesh

and get drunk from drinking

their own blood.

Then everyone will know

that the LORD is our Saviour;

the powerful God of Israel

has rescued his people.

₁The LORD says, “Children,

I didn't divorce your mother

or sell you to pay debts;

I divorced her and sold you

because of your sins.

₂I came and called out,

but you didn't answer.

Have I lost my power

to rescue and save?

At my command oceans and rivers

turn into deserts;

fish rot and stink

for lack of water.

₃I make the sky turn dark

like the sackcloth

you wear at funerals.”

₄The LORD God gives me

the right words

to encourage the weary.

Each morning he awakens me

eager to learn his teaching;

₅he made me willing to listen

and not rebel or run away.

₆I let them beat my back

and pull out my beard.

I didn't turn aside

when they insulted me

and spat in my face.

₇But the LORD God keeps me

from being disgraced.

So I refuse to give up,

because I know

God will never let me down.

₈My protector is nearby;

no one can stand here

to accuse me of wrong.

₉The LORD God will help me

and prove I am innocent.

My accusers will wear out

like moth-eaten clothes.

₁₀None of you respect the LORD

or obey his servant.

You walk in the dark

instead of the light;

you don't trust the name

of the LORD your God.

₁₁Go ahead and walk in the light

of the fires you have lit.

But with his own hand,

the LORD will punish you

and make you suffer.