Isaiah 50
1 Thus said YHWH: “Where [is] this—the bill of your mother’s divorce, Whom I sent away? Or to which of My creditors have I sold you? Behold, you have been sold for your iniquities, And for your transgressions Your mother has been sent away.
This is what the Lord says: Where's your mother's divorce certificate I gave her when I sent her away? Which of my creditors did I sell you to? Now look! You were sold because of your sins, and your mother was sent away because of your wrongdoing.
2 Why have I come, and there is no one? I called, and there is none answering, Has My hand been at all short of redemption? And is there not power in Me to deliver? Behold, by My rebuke I dry up a sea, I make rivers a wilderness, Their fish stink, for there is no water, And die with thirst.
When I came, why wasn't anyone there? When I called, why didn't anyone answer? Is it because I don't have the strength to save you, or the power to rescue you? Can't you see that if I order it, the sea will dry up? I can turn rivers into a desert. Their fish stink because they've died of thirst since there's no water.
3 I clothe the heavens [with] blackness, And I make their covering sackcloth.”
I can make the heavens go dark, covering them with sackcloth like they're in mourning.
4 Lord YHWH has given to Me The tongue of taught ones, To know to aid the weary [by] a word, He awakens [Me] morning by morning, He awakens [My] ear to hear as taught ones.
The Lord God has given me the ability to teach others, to know how to encourage those who are exhausted with a word. He wakes me up every morning; he helps me listen as a disciple.
5 Lord YHWH opened My ear, And I did not rebel—I did not move backward.
The Lord God has instructed me, and I haven't been rebellious and I haven't turned away.
6 I have given My back to those striking, And My cheeks to those plucking out, I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
I offered my back for people to beat me and my cheeks for people to pull my beard. I didn't hide my face from their mocking and spitting.
7 And Lord YHWH gives help to Me, Therefore I have not been ashamed, Therefore I have set My face as a flint, And I know that I am not ashamed.
The Lord God helps me, so I haven't been disgraced. That's why I'm so determined, setting my face hard as stone, knowing I won't be humiliated.
8 Near [is] He who is justifying Me, Who contends with Me? We stand together, who [is] My opponent? Let him come near to Me.
The one who vindicates me is close by, so who will bring charges against me? Let's stand to oppose one another! Come on, anyone who wants to accuse me!
9 Behold, Lord YHWH gives help to Me, Who [is] he that declares Me wicked? Behold, all of them wear out as a garment, A moth eats them.
The Lord God defends me. Who is going to declare me guilty? Look! Those who try will fall apart like old clothing, eaten up by moths.
10 “Who [is] among you, fearing YHWH, Listening to the voice of His Servant, That has walked in dark places, And there is no brightness for him? Let him trust in the Name of YHWH, And lean on his God.
Who among you respects the Lord and obeys what his servant says? Who among you walks in darkness and doesn't have light? Let them trust in the Lord and put their confidence in God.
11 Behold, all you kindling a fire, girding on sparks, Walk in the light of your fire, And in the sparks you have caused to burn, This has been to you from My hand, You lie down in grief!”
Beware all you who start a fire, who pick up blazing torches! Go ahead, walk in the light of your own fire and of the torches you yourselves have set alight! This is what you will receive from me: You are going to lie down in a place of suffering.
