< Isaiah 50 >
1 This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
Thus, saith Yahweh—Where then is the scroll of your mother’s divorce, whom I have put away? Or, which of my creditors, is it to whom I have sold you? Lo! for your iniquities, have ye been sold, And for your transgressions, hath your mother been put away.
2 Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.
Wherefore, When I came in, was there no one? When I called, was there none to answer? Is mine own hand, really shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or is there not, in me, strength to deliver? Lo! by my rebuke, I dry up the sea I make rivers a desert, Their fish Stinketh, for want of water, Yea dieth, for thirst:
3 I clothe the heavens in black and make sackcloth their covering.”
I clothe the heavens with gloom, And, of sackcloth, make I their covering.
4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
My Lord Yahweh, hath given unto me the tongue of the instructed, That I should know how to succour the fainting, with discourse, —He kept wakening—morning by morning. He kept wakening mine ear, to hearken as do the instructed;
5 The Lord GOD has opened My ears, and I have not been rebellious, nor have I turned back.
My Lord, Yahweh, opened mine ear, And, I, was not rebellious, —Away, turned I not:
6 I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
My back, gave I to smiters, and My cheeks, to them who pulled out the beard, —My face, hid I not from insult and spitting.
7 Because the Lord GOD helps Me, I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.
Because, My Lord, Yahweh, would help me, Therefore was I not deterred by insult, —Therefore did I set my face like flint, And I knew that I should not be put to shame.
8 The One who vindicates Me is near. Who will dare to contend with Me? Let us confront each other! Who has a case against Me? Let him approach Me!
At hand, is one who can justify me. Who will contend with me? let, us stand forth together, —Who can accuse me? let him draw near to me!
9 Surely the Lord GOD helps Me. Who is there to condemn Me? See, they will all wear out like a garment; the moths will devour them.
Lo! My Lord, Yahweh, will help me, Who is he that shall prove me lawless? Lo! they all, as a garment, shall fall to pieces, the moth shall consume them.
10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.
Who among you, revereth Yahweh, Hearkening unto the voice of his Servant, —That hath walked in dark places And hath had no gleam of light? Let him trust in the name of Yahweh, And lean upon his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who array yourselves with firebrands, walk in the light of your fire and of the firebrands you have lit! This is what you will receive from My hand: You will lie down in a place of torment.
Lo! all ye that kindle a fire, That gird yourselves with fiery darts, —Walk ye in the blaze of your own fire. And in the fiery darts ye have kindled, At my hand, hath this befallen you, In sorrow, shall ye lie down.