< Isaiah 50 >
1 Thus sayeth the Lord, Where is that bill of your mothers diuorcement, whome I haue cast off? or who is the creditour to whome I solde you? Beholde, for your iniquities are yee solde, and because of your transgressions is your mother forsaken.
Thus says YHWH, "Where is the bill of your mother's divorce, with which I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Look, for your iniquities were you sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.
2 Wherefore came I, and there was no man? I called, and none answered: is mine hand so shortened, that it cannot helpe? or haue I no power to deliuer? Beholde, at my rebuke I drie vp the Sea: I make the floods desert: their fish rotteth for want of water, and dieth for thirst.
Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can't redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Look, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.
3 I clothe the heauens with darkenesse, and make a sacke their couering.
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering."
4 The Lord God hath giuen me a tongue of the learned, that I shoulde knowe to minister a woord in time to him that is weary: he will raise me vp in the morning: in the morning hee will waken mine eare to heare, as the learned.
YHWH has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord God hath opened mine eare and I was not rebellious, neither turned I backe.
YHWH has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.
6 I gaue my backe vnto the smiters, and my cheekes to the nippers: I hidde not my face from shame and spitting.
I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard; I did not cover my face from insults and spitting.
7 For the Lord God will helpe me, therefore shall I not bee confounded: therefore haue I set my face like a flint, and I knowe that I shall not be ashamed.
But YHWH will help me; therefore I have not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed.
8 Hee is neere that iustifieth mee: who will contend with me? Let vs stande together: who is mine aduersarie? let him come neere to me.
He is near who justifies me; who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.
9 Beholde, the Lord God will helpe me: who is he that can condemne me? loe, they shall waxe olde as a garment: the mothe shall eate them vp.
Look, YHWH will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Look, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up.
10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord? let him heare the voyce of his seruant: hee that walketh in darkenesse, and hath no light, let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and staye vpon his God.
Who is among you who fears YHWH, who listens to the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of YHWH, and rely on his God.
11 Beholde, all you kindle a fire, and are compassed about with sparkes: walke in the light of your fire, and in the sparkes that ye haue kindled. This shall ye haue of mine hand: ye shall lye downe in sorowe.
Look, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with flaming arrows around yourselves; walk in the light of your fire, and among the flaming arrows that you have kindled. You shall have this of my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.