Isaiæ 50
1 Haec dicit Dominus: Quis est hic liber repudii matris vestrae, quo dimisi eam? aut quis est creditor meus, cui vendidi vos? ecce in iniquitatibus vestris venditi estis, et in sceleribus vestris dimisi matrem vestram.
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.
2 Quia veni, et non erat vir: vocavi, et non erat qui audiret. numquid abbreviata et parvula facta est manus mea, ut non possim redimere? aut non est in me virtus ad liberandum? Ecce in increpatione mea desertum faciam mare, ponam flumina in siccum: computrescent pisces sine aqua, et morientur in siti.
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.
3 Induam caelos tenebris, et saccum ponam operimentum eorum.
By me the heavens are clothed with black, and I make haircloth their robe.
4 Dominus dedit mihi linguam eruditam, ut sciam sustentare eum, qui lassus est verbo: erigit mane, mane erigit mihi aurem, ut audiam quasi magistrum.
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:
5 Dominus Deus aperuit mihi aurem, ego autem non contradico: retrorsum non abii.
And I have not put myself against him, or let my heart be turned back from him.
6 Corpus meum dedi percutientibus, et genas meas vellentibus: faciem meam non averti ab increpantibus, et conspuentibus in me.
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.
7 Dominus Deus auxiliator meus, ideo non sum confusus: ideo posui faciem meam ut petram durissimam, et scio quoniam non confundar.
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.
8 Iuxta est qui iustificat me, quis contradicet mihi? stemus simul, quis est adversarius meus? accedat ad me.
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.
9 Ecce Dominus Deus auxiliator meus: quis est qui condemnet me? Ecce omnes quasi vestimentum conterentur, tinea comedet eos.
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.
10 Quis ex vobis timens Dominum, audiens vocem servi sui? qui ambulavit in tenebris, et non est lumen ei, speret in nomine Domini, et innitatur super Deum suum.
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.
11 Ecce vos omnes accendentes ignem accincti flammis, ambulate in lumine ignis vestri, et in flammis, quas succendistis: de manu mea factum est hoc vobis, in doloribus dormietis.
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.
