The LORD's servant

1Here is my servant!42.1: Mt 3.17; 17.5; Mk 1.11; Lk 3.22; 9.35.42.1-4: Mt 12.18-21.

I have made him strong.

He is my chosen one;

I am pleased with him.

I have given him my Spirit,

and he will bring justice

to the nations.

2He won't shout or yell

or call out in the streets.

3He won't break off a bent reed

or put out a dying flame,

but he will make sure

that justice is done.

4He won't stop or give up

until he brings justice

everywhere on earth,

and people in foreign nations

long for his teaching.

5I am the LORD God.42.5: Ac 17.24,25.

I created the heavens

like an open tent above.

I made the earth and everything

that grows on it.

I am the source of life

for all who live on this earth,

so listen to what I say.

6I chose you to bring justice,42.6: Is 49.6; Lk 2.32; Ac 13.47; 26.23.

and I am here at your side.

I selected and sent you42.6 I selected…you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

to bring light

and my promise of hope

to the nations.

7You will give sight

to the blind;

you will set prisoners free

from dark dungeons.

8My name is the LORD!

I won't let idols or humans

share my glory and praise.

9Everything has happened

just as I said it would;

now I will announce

what will happen next.

Sing praises to the LORD

10Tell the whole world to sing

a new song to the LORD!

Tell those who sail the ocean

and those who live far away

to join in the praise.

11Tell the tribes of the desert

and everyone in the mountains42.11 desert…mountains: The Hebrew text includes the place names of Kedar in the desert and Sela in the mountains.

to celebrate and sing.

12Let them announce

his praises everywhere.

13The LORD is marching out

like an angry soldier,

shouting with all his might

while attacking his enemies.

The LORD will help his people

14For a long time, I, the LORD,

have held my temper;

now I will scream and groan

like a woman giving birth.

15I will destroy the mountains

and what grows on them;

I will dry up rivers and ponds.

16I will lead the blind on roads

they have never known;

I will guide them on paths

they have never travelled.

Their road is dark and rough,

but I will give light

to keep them from stumbling.

This is my solemn promise.

17Everyone who worships idols

as though they were gods

will be terribly ashamed.

God's people won't obey

18You people are deaf and blind,

but the LORD commands you

to listen and to see.

19No one is as blind or deaf

as his messenger,

his chosen servant,

20who sees and hears so much,

but pays no attention.

21The LORD always does right,

and so he wanted his Law

to be greatly praised.42.21 greatly praised: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 21.

22But his people were trapped

and imprisoned in holes

with no one to rescue them.

All they owned had been taken,

and no one was willing

to give it back.

23Why won't his people

ever learn to listen?

24Israel sinned and refused

to obey the LORD

or follow his instructions.

So the LORD let them be robbed

of everything they owned.

25He was furious with them

and punished their nation

with the fires of war.

Still they paid no attention.

They didn't even care

when they were surrounded

and scorched by flames.