A reading from the book of Isaiah.

Listen to me, O Coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar.

The Lord called me from the womb.

From the body of my mother, he named my name.

He made my mouth like a sharp sword, and the shadow of his hand he hid me.

He made me a polished arrow, and his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me,

You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. But I said, I have labored in vain. I have spent my

strength for nothing and vanity. Yet surely my right is with the Lord and my recompense with my God.

And now the Lord says, He who formed me from the womb to be his

servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored

in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength. He says, it is too light a thing that

you should be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to bring

back the preserved of Israel. I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation

may reach to the end of the earth. Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and His Holy One,

to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers, kings shall see and arise,

princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord who is faithful, the servant of rulers, kings shall see and arise, princes, and they shall prostrate

themselves, because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.

Thus says the Lord, in a time of favor I have answered you, in a day of salvation I have helped

you. I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion

the desolate heritages, saying to the prisoners come out, to those who are in darkness, appear.

They shall feed along the ways.

On all bare height shall be their pasture.

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