1 Listen to me, you coastlands! Pay attention, you people who live far away! The Lord summoned me from birth; he commissioned me when my mother brought me into the world. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the hollow of his hand; he made me like a sharpened arrow, he hid me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, through whom I will reveal my splendor.” 4 But I thought, “I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.” But the Lord will vindicate me; my God will reward me.

24 You may be assured that those who survive are more highly blessed than those who die. 25 ‘This is what the vision means: 26 The man you saw rising from the depths of the sea is he whom the Most High has held in readiness through many ages; he will himself deliver the world he has made, and determine the lot of those who survive. 27 As for the breath, fire, and storm which you saw pouring from the mouth of the man, 28 so that without a spear or any weapon in his hand he destroyed the hordes advancing to wage war against him, this is the meaning: