Calvin: Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 4

By John Calvin

Translated from the Original Latin, and Collated with the Latest French Version

By the Rev. William Pringle

Volume Fourth

Chapter 49

Isaiah 49:1-26

1. Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

1. Audite me, Insulae, et attendite populi e longinquo. Iehova ex utero vocavit me, e ventre matris meae habuit in memoria nomen meum.

2. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

2. Et posuit os meum quasi gladium acutum; in umbra manus suae protexit me, et posuit me in sagittam tersam, in pharetra sua abscondit me.

3. And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

3. Et dixit mihi, Servus meus es, Israel, in to gloriabor.

4. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain; yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.

4. Ego autem dixi, Frustra laboravi; inaniter et vane fortitudinem meam consumpsi. At judicium meum coram Iehova, et opus meum coram Deo meo.

5. And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.

5. Et nunc dicit Iehova, qui formavit me ab utero in servum sibi, ut reducam ad se Iacob. Atque ut Israel non colligatur, tamen gloriosus ero in oculis Iehovae, et Deus meus erit fortitudo mea.

6. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

6. Et ait, Leve est ut tu mihi sis servus ad suscitandas tribus Iacob, et desolationes Israel ut restituas. Itaque constitui to in lucem Gentium, ut sis salus mea ad extremum terrae.

7. Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

7. Sic dicit Iehova redemptor Israel, Sanctus ejus, ad contemptibilem anima, ad gentem abominabilem, ad servum dominantium. Reges videbunt, et consurgent Principes, et adorabunt propter Iehovam, quia fidelis est Sanctus…