The Servant and Light to the Gentiles
(Acts 13:42–52)

1  שִׁמְע֤וּ (Listen), אִיִּים֙ (O islands), אֵלַ֔י (to me)

וְהַקְשִׁ֥יבוּ (and pay attention), לְאֻמִּ֖ים (O peoples), מֵרָח֑וֹק (from afar);

יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) מִבֶּ֣טֶן (from the womb); קְרָאָ֔נִי (has called me)

מִמְּעֵ֥י (from the bowels) אִמִּ֖י (of my mother) הִזְכִּ֥יר (He has brought to mind) שְׁמִֽי׃ (my name).

2  וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (And He set) פִּי֙ (my mouth) כְּחֶ֣רֶב (like a sword); חַדָּ֔ה (sharp)

בְּצֵ֥ל (in the shadow) יָד֖וֹ (of His hand) הֶחְבִּיאָ֑נִי (He has hidden me)

וַיְשִׂימֵ֙נִי֙ (and He set me) לְחֵ֣ץ (as an arrow); בָּר֔וּר (polished)

בְּאַשְׁפָּת֖וֹ (in His quiver) הִסְתִּירָֽנִי׃ (He has concealed me).

3  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And He said) לִ֖י (to me) עַבְדִּי־ (My servant), אָ֑תָּה (you are) יִשְׂרָאֵ֕ל (O Israel),

אֲשֶׁר־ (in whom) בְּךָ֖ (I will) אֶתְפָּאָֽר׃ (be glorified).

4  וַאֲנִ֤י (And I) אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙ (said), לְרִ֣יק (In vain), יָגַ֔עְתִּי (I have labored)

לְתֹ֥הוּ (in futility), וְהֶ֖בֶל (and in emptiness); כֹּחִ֣י (My strength) כִלֵּ֑יתִי (I have spent)

אָכֵן֙ (yet surely) מִשְׁפָּטִ֣י (My vindication is) אֶת־ (with) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH),

וּפְעֻלָּתִ֖י (and My reward) אֶת־ (with) אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (my God).

5  וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ (And now), אָמַ֣ר (has said) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH)

יֹצְרִ֤י (the One forming Me) מִבֶּ֙טֶן֙ (from the womb) לְעֶ֣בֶד (to be a servant), ל֔וֹ (for Him)

לְשׁוֹבֵ֤ב (to bring back) יַֽעֲקֹב֙ (Jacob) אֵלָ֔יו (to Him)

וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (so that Israel) לֹא (to Him) יֵאָסֵ֑ף (might be gathered),

וְאֶכָּבֵד֙ (and I am honored) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH)

וֵאלֹהַ֖י (and My God) הָיָ֥ה (is) עֻזִּֽי׃ (My strength).

6  וַיֹּ֗אמֶר (And He said), נָקֵ֨ל (It is a light thing) מִֽהְיוֹתְךָ֥ (that You should be) לִי֙ (My) עֶ֔בֶד (Servant)

לְהָקִים֙ (to raise up) אֶת־ (-) שִׁבְטֵ֣י (the tribes) יַעֲקֹ֔ב (of Jacob),

וּנְצִירֵי (the preserved ones) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel); לְהָשִׁ֑יב (to restore)

וּנְתַתִּ֙יךָ֙ (and I will give You) לְא֣וֹר (as a light to) גּוֹיִ֔ם (the Gentiles),

לִֽהְי֥וֹת (that You should be) יְשׁוּעָתִ֖י (My salvation) עַד־ (to) קְצֵ֥ה (the ends) הָאָֽרֶץ׃ס (of the earth).

7  כֹּ֣ה (Thus) אָֽמַר־ (says) יְהוָה֩ (YHWH),

גֹּאֵ֨ל (the Redeemer) יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל (of Israel), קְדוֹשׁ֗וֹ (his Holy One),

לִבְזֹה־ (to the one despised of), נֶ֜פֶשׁ (soul) לִמְתָ֤עֵֽב (to one abhorred by), גּוֹי֙ (by the nation)

לְעֶ֣בֶד (to a servant of) מֹשְׁלִ֔ים (those ruling),

מְלָכִים֙ (Kings) יִרְא֣וּ (will see it) וָקָ֔מוּ (and rise),

שָׂרִ֖ים (princes) וְיִֽשְׁתַּחֲוּ֑וּ (and will bow low),

לְמַ֤עַן (for the sake) יְהוָה֙ (of YHWH) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) נֶאֱמָ֔ן (is faithful),

קְדֹ֥שׁ (the Holy One) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel),

וַיִּבְחָרֶֽךָּ׃ (and He has chosen you).

8  כֹּ֣ה׀ (Thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH),

בְּעֵ֤ת (In a time) רָצוֹן֙ (of favor) עֲנִיתִ֔יךָ (I have answered You)

וּבְי֥וֹם (and on a day) יְשׁוּעָ֖ה (of salvation) עֲזַרְתִּ֑יךָ (I have helped you)

וְאֶצָּרְךָ֗ (and I will watch over you) וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֙ (and give you)

לִבְרִ֣ית (as a covenant for) עָ֔ם (the people),

לְהָקִ֣ים (to establish) אֶ֔רֶץ (the land),

לְהַנְחִ֖יל (to apportion) נְחָל֥וֹת (the inheritances); שֹׁמֵמֽוֹת׃ (desolate).

9  לֵאמֹ֤ר (To say) לַֽאֲסוּרִים֙ (to the prisoners), צֵ֔אוּ (Go forth);

לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר (to those) בַּחֹ֖שֶׁךְ (in the darkness), הִגָּל֑וּ (Be uncovered).

עַל־ (Along) דְּרָכִ֣ים (the pathways), יִרְע֔וּ (they will graze)

וּבְכָל־ (and on all) שְׁפָיִ֖ים (the bare slopes) מַרְעִיתָֽם׃ (will be their pastures).

10  לֹ֤א (They will not) יִרְעָ֙בוּ֙ (hunger) וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִצְמָ֔אוּ (thirst);

וְלֹא־ (and not) יַכֵּ֥ם (will strike them) שָׁרָ֖ב (the scorching heat) וָשָׁ֑מֶשׁ (and sun)

כִּי־ (for) מְרַחֲמָ֣ם (the One having compassion on them) יְנַהֲגֵ֔ם (will lead them)

וְעַל־ (and beside) מַבּ֥וּעֵי (the springs) מַ֖יִם (of water) יְנַהֲלֵֽם׃ (He will guide them).

11  וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י (And I will make) כָל־ (all) הָרַ֖י (My mountains) לַדָּ֑רֶךְ (as a road),

וּמְסִלֹּתַ֖י (and My highways) יְרֻמֽוּן׃ (will be raised up).

12  הִנֵּה־ (Behold), אֵ֕לֶּה (these) מֵרָח֖וֹק (from afar); יָבֹ֑אוּ (will come)

וְהִֽנֵּה־ (and behold), אֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these) מִצָּפ֣וֹן (from the north) וּמִיָּ֔ם (and the west);

וְאֵ֖לֶּה (and these) מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (from the land) סִינִֽים׃ (of Sinim).

13  רָנּ֤וּ (Sing out), שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (O heavens); וְגִ֣ילִי (and rejoice), אָ֔רֶץ (O earth);

יִפְצְחוּ (and break out) הָרִ֖ים (O mountains)! רִנָּ֑ה (Into singing),

כִּֽי־ (for) נִחַ֤ם (has comforted) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) עַמּ֔וֹ (His people),

וַעֲנִיָּ֖ו (and on His afflicted ones) יְרַחֵֽם׃ס (and He will have compassion).

14  וַתֹּ֥אמֶר (And said), צִיּ֖וֹן (Zion) עֲזָבַ֣נִי (Has forsaken me) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH)

וַאדֹנָ֖י (and my Lord) שְׁכֵחָֽנִי׃ (has forgotten me).

15  הֲתִשְׁכַּ֤ח (Forget) אִשָּׁה֙ (Can a woman) עוּלָ֔הּ (her infant),

מֵרַחֵ֖ם (having no compassion on) בֶּן־ (the son) בִּטְנָ֑הּ (of her womb)?

גַּם־ (Even), אֵ֣לֶּה (these) תִשְׁכַּ֔חְנָה (she may forget),

וְאָנֹכִ֖י (and I) לֹ֥א (not) אֶשְׁכָּחֵֽךְ׃ (will forget you).

16  הֵ֥ן (Behold), עַל־ (on) כַּפַּ֖יִם (the palms); חַקֹּתִ֑יךְ (I have inscribed you)

חוֹמֹתַ֥יִךְ (your walls are) נֶגְדִּ֖י (before Me) תָּמִֽיד׃ (continually).

17  מִֽהֲר֖וּ (Are hurrying); בָּנָ֑יִךְ (your sons)

מְהָֽרְסַ֥יִךְ (those overthrowing you) וּמַחֲרִבַ֖יִךְ (and those destroying you) מִמֵּ֥ךְ (from you) יֵצֵֽאוּ׃ (will go out).

18  שְׂאִֽי־ (Lift up) סָבִ֤יב (round about), עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ (your eyes) וּרְאִ֔י (and see);

כֻּלָּ֖ם (all of them) נִקְבְּצ֣וּ (have gathered together), בָֽאוּ־ (and come) לָ֑ךְ (to you)

חַי־ (By the life of), אָ֣נִי (Me) נְאֻם־ (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH),

כִּ֤י (Surely) כֻלָּם֙ (all of them), כָּעֲדִ֣י (as an ornament), תִלְבָּ֔שִׁי (you will wear)

וּֽתְקַשְּׁרִ֖ים (and bind them on) כַּכַּלָּֽה׃ (like a bride).

19  כִּ֤י (For) חָרְבֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ (your ruins) וְשֹׁ֣מְמֹתַ֔יִךְ (and desolate places),

וְאֶ֖רֶץ (and the land) הֲרִֽסֻתֵ֑יךְ (of your devastation),

כִּ֤י (surely) עַתָּה֙ (now) תֵּצְרִ֣י (will be narrow) מִיּוֹשֵׁ֔ב (for its dweller),

וְרָחֲק֖וּ (and will be far away) מְבַלְּעָֽיִךְ׃ (and those who devoured you).

20  ע֚וֹד (Again) יֹאמְר֣וּ (will say) בְאָזְנַ֔יִךְ (in your ears),

בְּנֵ֖י (the sons) שִׁכֻּלָ֑יִךְ (of your childlessness),

צַר־ (Narrow) לִ֥י (for me) הַמָּק֖וֹם (the place is)

גְּשָׁה־ (Make room) לִּ֥י (for me) וְאֵשֵֽׁבָה׃ (that I may dwell).

21  וְאָמַ֣רְתְּ (And you will say) בִּלְבָבֵ֗ךְ (in your heart),

מִ֤י (Who) יָֽלַד־ (has borne) לִי֙ (for me) אֶת־ (-) אֵ֔לֶּה (these),

וַאֲנִ֥י (and I) שְׁכוּלָ֖ה (am childless) וְגַלְמוּדָ֑ה (and barren),

גֹּלָ֣ה׀ (exiled) וְסוּרָ֗ה (and rejected)?

וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (And these)? מִ֣י (Who) גִדֵּ֔ל (has raised)

הֵ֤ן (behold), אֲנִי֙ (I) נִשְׁאַ֣רְתִּי (was left) לְבַדִּ֔י (alone by myself);

אֵ֖לֶּה (these), אֵיפֹ֥ה (where) הֵֽם׃פ (are they from).

22  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH),

הִנֵּ֨ה (Behold), אֶשָּׂ֤א (I will lift up) אֶל־ (to) גּוֹיִם֙ (the nations), יָדִ֔י (My hand)

וְאֶל־ (and to) עַמִּ֖ים (the peoples); אָרִ֣ים (I will raise up) נִסִּ֑י (My banner)

וְהֵבִ֤יאוּ (and they will bring) בָנַ֙יִךְ֙ (your sons) בְּחֹ֔צֶן (in their bosom),

וּבְנֹתַ֖יִךְ (and your daughters) עַל־ (on) כָּתֵ֥ף (the shoulders) תִּנָּשֶֽׂאנָה׃ (will be carried).

23  וְהָי֨וּ (And will be) מְלָכִ֜ים (kings) אֹֽמְנַ֗יִךְ (your foster fathers),

וְשָׂרֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ (and their queens) מֵינִ֣יקֹתַ֔יִךְ (your nursing mothers).

אַפַּ֗יִם (Facedown) אֶ֚רֶץ (to the earth), יִשְׁתַּ֣חֲווּ (they will bow low) לָ֔ךְ (to you)

וַעֲפַ֥ר (and the dust) רַגְלַ֖יִךְ (of your feet); יְלַחֵ֑כוּ (they will lick up)

וְיָדַ֙עַתְּ֙ (and you will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I am) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH);

אֲשֶׁ֥ר (those) לֹֽא־ (not) יֵבֹ֖שׁוּ (will they be ashamed) קוָֹֽי׃ס (waiting for Me).

24  הֲיֻקַּ֥ח (Be taken) מִגִּבּ֖וֹר (from the mighty one), מַלְק֑וֹחַ (Can the prey)

וְאִם־ (or) שְׁבִ֥י (the captives) צַדִּ֖יק (of the righteous) יִמָּלֵֽט׃ (be delivered)?

25  כִּי־ (For) כֹ֣ה׀ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH),

גַּם־ (Even) שְׁבִ֤י (the captives) גִבּוֹר֙ (of the mighty) יֻקָּ֔ח (will be taken away),

וּמַלְק֥וֹחַ (and the prey) עָרִ֖יץ (of a tyrant) יִמָּלֵ֑ט (will be given escape);

וְאֶת־ (and) יְרִיבֵךְ֙ (your contender) אָנֹכִ֣י (I) אָרִ֔יב (will contend with)

וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנַ֖יִךְ (your sons) אָנֹכִ֥י (I) אוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ (will save).

26  וְהַאֲכַלְתִּ֤י (And I will make eat) אֶת־ (-) מוֹנַ֙יִךְ֙ (your oppressors) אֶת־ (-) בְּשָׂרָ֔ם (their own flesh);

וְכֶעָסִ֖יס (and like the sweet wine); דָּמָ֣ם (on their own blood), יִשְׁכָּר֑וּן (they will get drunk)

וְיָדְע֣וּ (and will know) כָל־ (all) בָּשָׂ֗ר (flesh) כִּ֣י (that) אֲנִ֤י (I am) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH)

מֽוֹשִׁיעֵ֔ךְ (your Savior) וְגֹאֲלֵ֖ךְ (and your Redeemer),

אֲבִ֥יר (the Mighty One) יַעֲקֹֽב׃ס (of Jacob).