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Isaiah 49:4

But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futility and vanity; yet My vindication is with the LORD, and My reward is with My God.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with Jehovah, and my recompense with my God.

KJV

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.

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Commentary

4 voices

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words
OriginalTransliterationMeaningWord study
וַאֲנִ֤יva.'a.Niand IH589 →
אָמַ֙רְתִּי֙'a.Mar.tiI saidH559 →
לְרִ֣יקle.Rikto emptinessH7385 →
יָגַ֔עְתִּיya.Ga'.tiI have laboredH3021 →
לְתֹ֥הוּle.To.huto nothingnessH8414 →
וְהֶ֖בֶלve.He.veland futilityH1892 →
כֹּחִ֣יko.Chistrength myH3581 →
כִלֵּ֑יתִיkhi.Lei.tiI have caused to failH3615 →
אָכֵן֙'a.KhenneverthelessH403 →
מִשְׁפָּטִ֣יmish.pa.Tijustice myH4941 →
אֶת־'et-[is] withH854 →
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068 →
וּפְעֻלָּתִ֖יu.fe.'u.la.Tiand recompense myH6468 →
אֶת־'et-[is] withH854 →
אֱלֹהָֽי׃'e.lo.HaiGod myH430 →

The walk

Related verses

18 strongest cross-references

The gold bar shows how strongly the cross-reference sources tie the two verses together: a long bar means many compiled references make the connection, a short one means few.

Galatians 2:21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.Proverbs 29:26Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man receives justice from the LORD.Isaiah 40:27Why do you say, O Jacob, and why do you assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my claim is ignored by my God”?Isaiah 35:4Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”Galatians 4:11I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.Philippians 2:16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.Matthew 17:17“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”Ezekiel 3:19But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.Isaiah 65:23They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD—they and their descendants with them.Isaiah 40:10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.Isaiah 62:11Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.”2 Corinthians 12:15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?Matthew 23:37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!Isaiah 53:10–12Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.2 Corinthians 2:15For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.Psalms 18:20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands.1 Thessalonians 2:1You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.1 Thessalonians 3:5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.

Featured studies on this passage

Ecce Homo — Antonio Ciseri

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Isaiah 52:13–53:12 — the single most extensive and specific messianic prophecy in the Old Testament, preserved in a scroll that predates Christ by more than a century.

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Saint Michael Vanquishing Satan — Raphael

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Roman legionary equipment surveyed by Paul as Christian discipline (Eph 6:10–18). Six pieces of armor and a seventh element — prayer — that is posture, not armor. Every piece carries an OT echo.

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St John the Evangelist at Patmos — Diego Velázquez

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The Prophet Isaiah, Sistine Chapel ceiling — Michelangelo

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Messianic Prophecy

The full catalog as a receipt ledger — the Old Testament text, the New Testament usage, and the witness, side by side, with every count rendered live from the data and every contested reading shown with both columns.

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About Isaiah

The Prophet Isaiah — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
The Prophet Isaiah — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Isaiah: the study guide →Read chapter 49 →The featured study →
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