Isaiah 49:4

NETBible

But I thought, 1  “I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.” 2  But the Lord will vindicate me; my God will reward me. 3 

NIV ©

But I said, "I have laboured to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing. Yet what is due to me is in the LORD’s hand, and my reward is with my God."

NASB ©

But I said, "I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the LORD, And My reward with My God."

NLT ©

I replied, "But my work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose at all. Yet I leave it all in the LORD’s hand; I will trust God for my reward."

MSG ©

But I said, "I've worked for nothing. I've nothing to show for a life of hard work. Nevertheless, I'll let GOD have the last word. I'll let him pronounce his verdict."

BBE ©

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.

NRSV ©

But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the LORD, and my reward with my God."

NKJV ©

Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.’"

KJV
Then I said
<0559> (8804)_,
I have laboured
<03021> (8804)
in vain
<07385>_,
I have spent
<03615> (8765)
my strength
<03581>
for nought
<08414>_,
and in vain
<01892>_:
[yet] surely
<0403>
my judgment
<04941>
[is] with the LORD
<03068>_,
and my work
<06468>
with my God
<0430>_.
{my work: or, my reward}
NASB ©
But I said
<559>
, "I have toiled
<3021>
in vain
<7385>
, I have spent
<3615>
My strength
<3581>
for nothing
<8414>
and vanity
<1892>
; Yet surely
<403>
the justice
<4941>

due
to Me is with the LORD
<3068>
, And My reward
<6468>
with My God
<430>
."
LXXM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
egw
<1473> 
P-NS
eipa {V-AAI-1S} kenwv
<2756> 
ADV
ekopiasa
<2872> 
V-AAI-1S
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
eiv
<1519> 
PREP
mataion
<3152> 
A-ASN
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
eiv
<1519> 
PREP
ouden
<3762> 
A-ASN
edwka
<1325> 
V-AAI-1S
thn
<3588> 
T-ASF
iscun
<2479> 
N-ASF
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
dia
<1223> 
PREP
touto
<3778> 
D-ASN
h
<3588> 
T-NSF
krisiv
<2920> 
N-NSF
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
para
<3844> 
PREP
kuriw
<2962> 
N-DSM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
o
<3588> 
T-NSM
ponov
<4192> 
N-NSM
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
enantion
<1726> 
PREP
tou
<3588> 
T-GSM
yeou
<2316> 
N-GSM
mou
<1473> 
P-GS
NET [draft] ITL
But I
<0589>
thought
<0559>
, “I have worked
<03021>
in vain
<07385>
; I have expended
<03615>
my energy
<03581>
for absolutely nothing
<01892>

<08414>
.” But
<0403>
the Lord
<03068>
will vindicate
<04941>
me; my God
<0430>
will reward
<06468>
me.
HEBREW
yhla
<0430>
ta
<0854>
ytlepw
<06468>
hwhy
<03068>
ta
<0854>
yjpsm
<04941>
Nka
<0403>
ytylk
<03615>
yxk
<03581>
lbhw
<01892>
whtl
<08414>
ytegy
<03021>
qyrl
<07385>
ytrma
<0559>
ynaw (49:4)
<0589>
NETBible

But I thought, 1  “I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.” 2  But the Lord will vindicate me; my God will reward me. 3 

NET Notes

1 tn Or “said” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV); NLT “I replied.”

2 tn Heb “for nothing and emptiness.” Synonyms are combined to emphasize the common idea.

3 tn Heb “But my justice is with the Lord, and my reward [or “wage”] with my God.”