< Isaiah 50 >
1 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.
Thus saith Jehovah: Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, By which I dismissed her? Or who is he among my creditors To whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities are ye sold, And for your transgressions was your mother dismissed.
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.
Wherefore, when I came, was no man at hand? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand too short to redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, And make the rivers a desert. Their fish putrefy for want of water, And die with thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering."
I clothe the heavens with blackness, And make sackcloth their covering.
4 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.
The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of the learned, That I might know how to strengthen with my words them that are weary; He wakeneth me every morning, He wakeneth mine ear, That I may hear in the manner of the learned.
5 YHWH has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.
The Lord Jehovah opened mine ear, And I was not disobedient, Neither did I withdraw myself backward.
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 gave my back to the smiters, And my cheeks to them that pluck the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
7 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.
But the Lord Jehovah is my helper, Therefore shall I not be confounded; Therefore have I made my face like a flint, For I know that I shall not be put to shame.
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 that defendeth my cause is near; Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together! Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me!
9 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.
Behold, the Lord Jehovah is my defender; Who is he that shall condemn me? Behold, they shall all waste away like a garment; The moth shall consume them.
10 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.
Who is there among you that feareth Jehovah, That hearkeneth to the voice of his servant, That walketh in darkness and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of Jehovah, And 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 ye who kindle a fire, Who gird yourselves with burning arrows! Walk ye in the light of your fire, And in the burning arrows which ye have kindled. This shall ye have from my hand; Ye shall lie down in sorrow.