Isaías 49

1 OIDME, islas, y escuchad, pueblos lejanos: Jehová me llamó desde el vientre; desde las entrañas de mi madre tuvo mi nombre en memoria.

Listen to me, you people of the islands! Pay attention, you who live far away! The Lord called me before I was born; he gave me my name while I was still in my mother's womb.

2 Y puso mi boca como espada aguda, cubrióme con la sombra de su mano; y púsome por saeta limpia, guardóme en su aljaba;

The words he gave me to speak are like a sharp sword. He has protected me by covering me with his hand. He put me in his quiver like a sharp arrow, keeping me safe there.

3 Y díjome: Mi siervo eres, oh Israel, que en ti me gloriaré.

He told me, “You are my servant, Israel, and I will reveal my glory through you.”

4 Yo empero dije: Por demás he trabajado, en vano y sin provecho he consumido mi fortaleza; mas mi juicio está delante de Jehová, y mi recompensa con mi Dios.

But I replied, “I've worked for nothing! I've exhausted myself, and for what? Even so, I leave it with the Lord to do what's right, and my reward is with my God.”

5 Ahora pues, dice Jehová, el que me formó desde el vientre por su siervo, para que convierta á él á Jacob. Bien que Israel no se juntará, con todo, estimado seré en los ojos de Jehová, y el Dios mío será mi fortaleza.

Now my Lord is going to speak, the one who formed me in the womb as his servant to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to himself. I am honored in the Lord's sight, and my God has given me strength.

6 Y dijo: Poco es que tú me seas siervo para levantar las tribus de Jacob, y para que restaures los asolamientos de Israel: también te dí por luz de las gentes, para que seas mi salud hasta lo postrero de la tierra.

He says, “It's nothing much for you to be my servant to bring back the tribes of Jacob, those people of Israel that I've preserved. I'm also going to make you a light for the foreigners so that my salvation may reach everybody.”

7 Así ha dicho Jehová, Redentor de Israel, el Santo suyo, al menospreciado de alma, al abominado de las gentes, al siervo de los tiranos: Verán reyes, y levantaránse príncipes, y adorarán por Jehová; porque fiel [es] el Santo de Israel, el cual te escogió.

This is what the Lord says, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to the one who was despised and detested by the nation, to the one who is the servant of rulers: Kings will see you and stand up, and princes will bow down to you, because the Lord, who is trustworthy, the Holy One of Israel, has chosen you.

8 Así dijo Jehová: En hora de contentamiento te oí, y en el día de salud te ayudé: y guardarte he, y te daré por alianza del pueblo, para que levantes la tierra, para que heredes asoladas heredades;

This is what the Lord says: I will answer you at the proper time; I will help you on the day of salvation. I will take care of you, and I will give you to the people as my agreement with them, to restore the land and to reassign the parts that have been abandoned.

9 Para que digas á los presos: Salid; y á los que están en tinieblas: Manifestaos. En los caminos serán apacentados, y en todas las cumbres serán sus pastos.

Tell the prisoners, “Come out!” Tell those living in darkness, “Come into the light!” Like sheep they will feed along the roads and in the pastures on hills that once were barren.

10 No tendrán hambre ni sed, ni el calor ni el sol los afligirá; porque el que tiene de ellos misericordia los guiará, y los conducirá á manaderos de aguas.

They won't be hungry or thirsty, and they won't get hot in the sun, for the one who loves them will lead them to springs, and guide them to water.

11 Y tornaré camino todos mis montes, y mis calzadas serán levantadas.

I will turn all my mountains into a road; my highways will be really high!

12 He aquí estos vendrán de lejos; y he aquí estotros del norte y del occidente, y estotros de la tierra de los Sineos.

Look at these people coming from far away! Look at these people coming from the north, and from the west, and from Upper Egypt.

13 Cantad alabanzas, oh cielos, y alégrate, tierra; y prorrumpid en alabanzas, oh montes: porque Jehová ha consolado su pueblo, y de sus pobres tendrá misericordia.

Heavens, shout for joy! Earth, celebrate! Mountains, sing out in happiness! The Lord has come to care for his people, and he will treat his suffering people kindly.

14 Mas Sión dijo: Dejóme Jehová, y el Señor se olvidó de mí.

But Zion said, “The Lord has given up on me; the Lord has forgotten about me.”

15 ¿Olvidaráse la mujer de lo que parió, para dejar de compadecerse del hijo de su vientre? Aunque se olviden ellas, yo no me olvidaré de ti.

Really? Can a mother forget her nursing baby? Can she forget to be kind to the child she carried in her womb? Even if she could forget, I will never forget you!

16 He aquí que en las palmas te tengo esculpida: delante de mí están siempre tus muros.

Look at your names I've written on the palms of my hands! I'm always thinking about your walls.

17 Tus edificadores vendrán aprisa; tus destruidores y tus asoladores saldrán de ti.

Soon your children will come running back. Your destroyers, those that devastated your land, will be gone.

18 Alza tus ojos alrededor, y mira: todos estos se han reunido, han venido á ti. Vivo yo, dice Jehová, que de todos, como de vestidura de honra, serás vestida; y de ellos serás ceñida como novia.

Take a look around. See all your children gathering and coming back to you. As I live, declares the Lord, you will wear them all as jewelry, proudly putting them on like a bride.

19 Porque tus asolamientos, y tus ruinas, y tu tierra desierta, ahora será angosta por la multitud de los moradores; y tus destruidores serán apartados lejos.

Your ruined towns and abandoned places and devastated lands will be crowded with people, while those who took over your country will be long gone.

20 Aun los hijos de tu orfandad dirán á tus oídos: Angosto es para mí este lugar; apártate por amor de mí, para que yo more.

The children born during your time of mourning in exile will say, “This place is too crowded for me! Make room so I have a place to live!”

21 Y dirás en tu corazón: ¿Quién me engendró estos? porque yo deshijada estaba y sola, peregrina y desterrada: ¿quién pues crió éstos? He aquí yo estaba dejada sola: éstos ¿dónde estaban?

Then you will say to yourself, “Who gave birth to all these children for me? My children were killed and I was unable to have more; I was exiled and thrown aside—so who brought these children up? Look, I was abandoned, so where did they come from?”

22 Así dijo el Señor Jehová: He aquí, yo alzaré mi mano á las gentes, y á los pueblos levantaré mi bandera; y traerán en brazos tus hijos, y tus hijas serán traídas en hombros.

This is what the Lord God says, Watch as I give the signal to the nations, as I raise my flag to let everyone know. They will bring them back, carrying your sons in their arms, and lifting your daughters onto their shoulders.

23 Y reyes serán tus ayos, y sus reinas tus amas [de leche]; el rostro inclinado á tierra te adorarán, y lamerán el polvo de tus pies: y conocerás que yo soy Jehová, que no se avergonzarán los que me esperan.

Kings will be your child-minders; queens will be your nurses. They will bow low before you, and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, and that those who put their trust in me will never be ashamed.

24 ¿Será quitada la presa al valiente? ó ¿libertaráse la cautividad legítima?

Can loot be taken from a warrior? Can prisoners be rescued from a dictator?

25 Así empero dice Jehová: Cierto, la cautividad será quitada al valiente, y la presa del robusto será librada; y tu pleito yo lo pleitearé, y yo salvaré á tus hijos.

But this is what the Lord says: Even the prisoners of warriors will be won back; even loot will be recovered from a dictator. I will fight with your enemies, and I will rescue your children.

26 Y á los que te despojaron haré comer sus carnes, y con su sangre serán embriagados como con mosto; y conocerá toda carne que yo Jehová soy Salvador tuyo, y Redentor tuyo, el Fuerte de Jacob.

I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh and drink their own blood like wine. Then everyone will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.