First Nephi — Chapter 21
(See Isaiah 49)
1 Again: Listen, O you House of Israel, who are scattered and broken off because of the wickedness of your leaders. Listen to me, O islands, and you people far away: the Lord called me while I was still inside my mother.
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword and hid me in his hand. He made me into a straight arrow, and put me in his quiver.
3 He said to me: “You are my servant, O Israel, and you will bring glory to me.”
4 Then I thought, I have worked for nothing, I have used up my strength for no reason. But truly God will judge me and my work.
5 And now, said the Lord who made me his servant before I was born (to bring Jacob to him again), since Israel has been gathered, God gave me glory when I made him my strength.
6 He said: “It is too easy for you to bring back Jacob and Israel, so I will make you a light to the Gentiles, so you can save all the earth.”
7 This is what the Lord, the Savior of Israel, his Holy One, says to the one his people hate, the servant of rulers: “Kings will see and stand up, and princes will bow down to you, too, because the Lord has kept his promise to you, and the Holy One of Israel has chosen you.”
8 The Lord says: “O faraway lands, at the right time I heard you, and at the saving day I helped you. I have given my servant as a promise to the people to save the earth, and to bring them back to the empty lands.
9 “He will say to the prisoners: ‘Go free,’ and to those who sit in the dark: ‘Show yourselves.’ They will eat on the roadsides and in all the high places.
10 “They will not be hungry or thirsty, and the hot sun will not hurt them. He will have mercy on them and lead them to springs of water.
11 “I will make roads out of all my mountains, and my highways will be very high.”
12 See these people coming from far away, O House of Israel. Some come from the north, and some from the west, and some from the land of Sinim.
13 Sing, O heavens. Be happy, O earth, because the feet of those people in the east will be made strong. Sing, O mountains, because they will not be hurt anymore. The Lord has comforted his people, and he will have mercy on those who have trouble.
14 Zion has said: “The Lord has left me, and my Lord has forgotten me,” but he will show that he has not.
15 “Can a woman forget the baby she feeds? Can she not love her own baby? Even if she forgets, I will not forget you, O House of Israel.
16 “I have written you on the palms of my hands. You are always in my thoughts.
17 “Your children will quickly chase away your destroyers, and they will leave you.”
18 The Lord says: “Look around. All these people will gather together, and they will come to you. Just as I live, you will dress them up like a bride.”
19 Your deserts and empty lands will be crowded with too many people, even when your enemies are gone.
20 The children you have (after you lost your first children) will say to you: “This land is too crowded. Give us land where we can live.”
21 Then you will say in your heart: “Who gave me these children? I lost my children, and I am alone, a slave, and have I wandered here and there. Who raised these children? I was alone and gone. Where have these children been?”
22 This is what the Lord God says: “I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and I will set up my signal for the people. They will bring you your sons in their arms, and they will carry your daughters on their shoulders.
23 “Kings will be your fathers, and queens will be your mothers. They will bow down low in front of you, and they will lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, and that no one who serves me will be ashamed.”
24 Will slaves be taken away from those with power? Will the slaves be freed?
25 But the Lord says: “Even the slaves of those with power will be taken away, and the slaves will be freed, because I will fight your enemies, and I will save your children.
26 “I will make those who hurt you eat up their own bodies. They will get drunk on their own blood as if it were wine, and all people will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
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