Isaiah 49:4

Discouragement and depression Exhaustion Faith

² He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.

³ He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory.”

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.”

⁵ And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him— for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength—

⁶ He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.”
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.
WEB: But I said, “I have labored in vain. I have spent my strength in vain for nothing; yet surely the justice due to me is with the LORD, and my reward with my God.”
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.
DARBY: And I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and in vain; nevertheless my judgment is with Jehovah, and my work with my God.
BLB: And I said: “In vain I have labored; I have spent My strength in futility and in emptiness. Yet surely My vindication [is] with YHWH, and My reward with my God.”

ÅB: Men jeg sa: Forgjeves har jeg arbeidet meg trett, og til ingen nytte har jeg fortært min kraft; men min rett er allikevel hos Herren, og min lønn hos min Gud.
OTB: Men jeg sa: “Jeg har arbeidet forgjeves; jeg har brukt min styrke for ingenting og til ingen nytte. Likevel er min rettferdighet hos Herren, og min lønn er hos min Gud.”
B1930: Men jeg sa: Forgjeves har jeg arbeidet mig trett, og til ingen nytte har jeg fortært min kraft; men min rett er allikevel hos Herren, og min lønn hos min Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 35:4
Say 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.”
Read in context
Galatians 4:11
I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 12:15
And 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?
Read in context
Isaiah 62:11
Behold, 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.”
Read in context
Isaiah 40:10
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.
Read in context
Matthew 23:37
O 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!
Read in context
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.”
Read in context
Ezekiel 3:19
But 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.
Read in context