Isaiah 49:4 “But I said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent My strength in futil…”

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

And I said, I haue labored in vaine: I haue spent my strength in vaine and for nothing: but my iudgement is with the Lord, and my woorke with my God.

Darby Translation

— 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.

Young's Literal Translation

And I said, 'For a vain thing I laboured, For emptiness and vanity my power I consumed, But my judgment [is] with Jehovah, And my wage with my God.

Bible in Basic English

And I said, I have undergone weariness for nothing, I have given my strength for no purpose or profit: but still the Lord will take up my cause, and my God will give me my reward.

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Cross references

“I have laboured”

Galatians 4:11 Ezekiel 3:19 Matthew 17:17 Matthew 23:37 Isaiah 65:2 John 1:11

Galatians 4:11 · BSB

I fear for you, that my efforts for you may have been in vain.

Ezekiel 3:19 · BSB

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.

Matthew 17:17 · BSB

“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.”

Matthew 23:37 · BSB

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!

Isaiah 65:2 · BSB

All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations,

John 1:11 · BSB

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

“spent”

2 Corinthians 12:15 Leviticus 26:20

2 Corinthians 12:15 · BSB

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?

Leviticus 26:20 · BSB

and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.

“yet”

Isaiah 53:10–12 2 Corinthians 2:15 Psalm 22:22–31 Luke 24:26 Hebrews 12:2 John 17:4

Isaiah 53:10–12 · BSB

Yet 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 h…

2 Corinthians 2:15 · BSB

For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Psalm 22:22–31 · BSB

I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the assembly.

Luke 24:26 · BSB

Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?”

Hebrews 12:2 · BSB

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

John 17:4 · BSB

I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.

“work”

Isaiah 40:10 Isaiah 62:11

Isaiah 40:10 · BSB

Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.

Isaiah 62:11 · BSB

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.”

Also

Isaiah 35:4 Isaiah 65:23

Isaiah 35:4 · BSB

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.”

Isaiah 65:23 · BSB

They 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.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

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

5And 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—

Read Isaiah 49