Isaiah 49 - Zion

O isles listen unto me -
Come forth that ye might hear.
The Lord hath called me from the womb,
Yea, all the earth come near.

The Lord hath called me Is-ra-el,
Much like a sharpened sword;
A polished shaft that’s hid within
The quiver of the Lord.

My labor I have done in vain,
My strength is spent for naught.
Yea, I shall by my Lord be judged,
And His great work be wrought.

‘Though Is-ra-el is yet dispersed,
And I have worked at length.
In God’s eyes shall I glory find –
My God shall be my strength.

Yea, in the womb was Isra’l called,
A faithful servant true;
A light unto the Gentiles, who
Her people would renew.

And though she was despised of man,
Abhorred, ashamed and beat;
Both kings and princes shall arise,
And worship at her feet.

The Lord hath said, in His own time,
Would hear her and preserve –
Would give her for a covenant –
Inheritance reserve.

The Lord hath heard her prayers upon
The isles of the sea.
A servant shall He call up then,
That she might gathered be.

Through the mountains they shall travel –
On highways great shall flee –
From north and west, from far and lo,
From prison they’ll be free.

They shall not hunger nor shall thirst,
They in the way shall feed.
By springs of water shall they pass,
As God above doth lead.

O heavens shout, be joyful earth,
The Lord doth comfort bring.
His people shall not suffer more,
The mountains all shall sing.

Though Zion feels forsaken now,
God shall not them ignore.
‘Though mothers may forget their babes,
God’s people He’ll restore.

For they are graven on His palms,
And also on His walls.
Their conquerors shall lay as waste,
If they do heed His calls.

Lift up thine eyes, and look about,
The Lord doth stand with pride.
As Is-ra-el He doth adorn
In clothing of a bride.

And though her children first were lost,
God others did replace.
And now in all the land there’s not,
For all sufficient space.

Yea, God shall lift again His hand;
And through the Gentiles, He
Will raise a standard high so that
All Is-ra-el might see.

The Gentiles then shall Isra’l nurse,
And lead them back once more;
Upon their shoulders carry them,
To Is-ra-el restore.

And kings and queens shall be their nurse,
‘Til all the work be done;
That all of mortal flesh should know
The Lord – The Mighty One.

To Is-ra-el they all shall bow,
And lick her dusty feet
As they who for their God do wait.
Shall have redemption sweet.

The Lord shall free the captives and
Deliver all the prey.
And God from the oppressor then,
Shall take them in that day.

And God shall cause they that oppress,
On their own flesh to feed.
The Lord, the Great Redeemer, shall
The people all then heed.

Excerpt from the book "The Ballad of Isaiah" by