From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land,
a man to fulfil my purpose.
What I have said,
that I will bring about;
what I have planned,
that I will do.
Listen to me,
you stubborn-hearted,
you who are now far from my righteousness.
See,
my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised
and lifted up
and highly exalted.
I will place on his shoulder
the key to the house of David;
what he opens no one can shut,
and what he shuts no one can open.
He said,
“Listen to me, Jacob!
Israel, whom I have called:
I am he;
I am the first and I am the last.
I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
This is what the LORD says to me:
‘I will remain quiet
and will look on from my dwelling place,
like shimmering heat in the sunshine,
like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
Although you have been forsaken and hated,
with no one travelling through,
I will make you the everlasting pride
and the joy of all generations.
I have swept away your offences like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.’ “
