Isaiah 50

1 Thus says the LORD, "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.

Thus says the Lord: What is this bill of divorce for your mother, by which I have dismissed her? Or who is my creditor, to whom I have sold you? Behold, you were sold by your iniquities, and I have dismissed your mother for your wickedness.

2 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.

For I arrived, and there was no man. I called out, and there was no one who would hear. Has my hand been shortened and become small, so that I am unable to redeem? Or is there no power in me to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke, I will make the sea into a desert. I will turn rivers into dry land. The fish will rot for lack of water and will die of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering."

I will clothe the heavens in darkness, and I will make sackcloth their covering.

4 The LORD 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.

The Lord has given me a learned tongue, so that I would know how to uphold with a word, one who has weakened. He rises in the morning, he rises to my ear in the morning, so that I may heed him like a teacher.

5 The LORD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.

The Lord God has opened my ear. And I do not contradict him. I have not turned back.

6 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.

I have given my body to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who plucked them. I have not averted my face from those who rebuked me and who spit on me.

7 But the LORD 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.

The Lord God is my helper. Therefore, I have not been confounded. Therefore, I have set my face like a very hard rock, and I know that I will not be confounded.

8 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.

He who justifies me is near. Who will speak against me? Let us stand together. Who is my adversary? Let him approach me.

9 Look, the LORD 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.

Behold, the Lord God is my helper. Who is the one who would condemn me? Behold, they will all be worn away like a garment; the moth will devour them.

10 Who is among you who fears the LORD, who listens to the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness, and has no light, let him trust in the name of the LORD, and rely on his God.

Who is there among you who fears the Lord? Who hears the voice of his servant? Who has walked in darkness, and there is no light in him? Let him hope in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon his God.

11 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.

Behold, all you who kindle a fire, wrapped in flames: walk in the light of your fire and in the flames that you have kindled. This has been done to you by my hand. You will sleep in anguish.