49 Listen to me, all you in distant lands! from within the womb he called me by name. 2 He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. 3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.” 4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I will trust God for my reward.” 5 And now the LORD speaks— and my God has given me strength. 6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” 7 The LORD, the Redeemer the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” 8 This is what the LORD says: and assign it to its own people again. 9 I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’ and on hills that were previously bare. 10 They will neither hunger nor thirst. he will lead them beside cool waters. 11 And I will make my mountains into level paths for them. The highways will be raised above the valleys. 12 See, my people will return from far away, and from as far south as Egypt.” 13 Sing for joy, O heavens! and will have compassion on them in their suffering. 14 Yet Jerusalem says, “The LORD has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.” 15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? I would not forget you! 16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins. 17 Soon your descendants will come back, and all who are trying to destroy you will go away. 18 Look around you and see, “they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display. 19 “Even the most desolate parts of your abandoned land will be far away. 20 The generations born in exile will return and say, ‘We need more room! It’s crowded here!’ 21 Then you will think to yourself, Who raised them for me?’” 22 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: they will bring your daughters on their shoulders. 23 Kings and queens will serve you Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.” 24 Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior? Who can demand that a tyrant let his captives go? 25 But the LORD says, and I will save your children. 26 I will feed your enemies with their own flesh. the Mighty One of Israel.”