Isaiah 50
1 This is the word of the Lord: Where is the statement which I gave your mother when I put her away? or to which of my creditors have I given you for money? It was for your sins that you were given into the hands of others, and for your evil-doing was your mother put 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, then, when I came, was there no man? and no one to give answer to my voice? has my hand become feeble, so that it is unable to take up your cause? or have I no power to make you free? See, at my word the sea becomes dry, I make the rivers a waste land: their fish are dead for need of water, and make an evil smell.
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 By me the heavens are clothed with black, and I make haircloth their robe.
I clothe the heavens with gloom, And, of sackcloth, make I their covering.
4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are experienced, so that I may be able to give the word a special sense for the feeble: every morning my ear is open to his teaching, like those who are experienced:
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 And I have not put myself against him, or let my heart be turned back from him.
My Lord, Yahweh, opened mine ear, And, I, was not rebellious, —Away, turned I not:
6 I was offering my back to those who gave me blows, and my face to those who were pulling out my hair: I did not keep my face covered from marks of shame.
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 For the Lord God is my helper; I will not be put to shame: so I have made my face like a rock, and I am certain that he will give me my right.
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 He who takes up my cause is near; who will go to law with me? let us come together before the judge: who is against me? let him come near to 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 See, the Lord God is my helper; who will give a decision against me? truly, all of them will become old like a robe; they will be food for the worm.
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 has the fear of the Lord, giving ear to the voice of his servant who has been walking in the dark and has no light? Let him put his faith in the name of the Lord, looking to his God for support.
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 See, all you who make a fire, arming yourselves with burning branches: go in the flame of your fire, and among the branches you have put a light to. This will you have from my hand, you will make your bed in sorrow.
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.
