Isaiah 49:6-12

6‘As my servant, I have a greater job for you to do. It will not only be to make Jacob's tribes strong again. It will not only be to bring back Israel's people that I have kept safe. It will also be your job to bring light to the other nations. You will show people all over the world that I have the power to save them.’

7The Lord is Israel's Redeemer, their Holy God. Nations refuse to accept his servant. Their people hate him and their rulers have made him their slave. The Lord says to his servant, ‘Kings will see you and they will rise up to respect you. Princes will bend down low in front of you. They will see that the Lord is faithful. He is Israel's Holy God, who has chosen you to serve him.’

8This is what the Lord says: ‘I will answer your prayers at the time that I have chosen to help you. Yes, I will come to save you on that day. I will keep you safe, so that I can make a covenant with people through you. You will make the land safe again. People will return to live there, in places that had become empty.

9You will say to the prisoners, “Come out!” You will say to people who are in dark prisons, “Come outside!” Then they will be free to find food for themselves. They will eat along the road and on the tops of the hills.

10They will not be hungry or thirsty. The strong heat of the sun will not hurt them. The one who loves them will be their guide. He will lead them to drink from springs of water.

11I will make all my mountains become roads. I will build good roads for my people to travel on.

12Look! People will return to the land from places that are far away. Yes, some of them will come from the north and from the west. And some will come from the land of Sinim.’