Isaiah 49:1-4

Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendour.’ But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due to me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God.’