rsv Isaiah:49:1-8 SEEK
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Listen to me ,
O coastlands ,
and hearken ,
you peoples from afar .
The LORD called me from the womb ,
from the body of my mother he named my name .
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He made my mouth like a sharp sword ,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me ;
he made me a polished arrow ,
in his quiver he hid me away .
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And he said to me , "
You are my servant ,
Israel ,
in whom I will be glorified ."
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But I said , "
I have labored in vain ,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity ;
yet surely my right is with the LORD ,
and my recompense with my God ."
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And now the LORD says ,
who formed me from the womb to be his servant ,
to bring Jacob back to him ,
and that Israel might be gathered to him ,
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD ,
and my God has become my strength --
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he says : "
It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel ;
I will give you as a light to the nations ,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth ."
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Thus says the LORD ,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One ,
to one deeply despised ,
abhorred by the nations ,
the servant of rulers : "
Kings shall see and arise ;
princes ,
and they shall prostrate themselves ;
because of the LORD ,
who is faithful ,
the Holy One of Israel ,
who has chosen you ."
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Thus says the LORD : "
In a time of favor I have answered you ,
in a day of salvation I have helped you ;
I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people ,
to establish the land ,
to apportion the desolate heritages ;