< Isaiah 50 >

1 Yahweh says, “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away? Or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, and your mother was put away for your transgressions.
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.
2 Why, when I came, was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea. I make the rivers a wilderness. Their fish stink because there is no water, and die of thirst.
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.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness. I make sackcloth their covering.”
I clothe the heavens [with] blackness, And I make their covering sackcloth.”
4 The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He awakens morning by morning, he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
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.
5 The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I was not rebellious. I have not turned back.
Lord YHWH opened My ear, And I did not rebel—I did not move backward.
6 I gave my back to those who beat me, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair. I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.
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.
7 For the Lord Yahweh will help me. Therefore I have not been confounded. Therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I won’t be disappointed.
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.
8 He who justifies me is near. Who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.
Near [is] He who is justifying Me, Who contends with Me? We stand together, who [is] My opponent? Let him come near to Me.
9 Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me! Who is he who will condemn me? Behold, they will all grow old like a garment. The moths will eat them up.
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.
10 Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of his servant? He who walks in darkness and has no light, let him trust in Yahweh’s name, and rely on his God.
“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.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves, walk in the flame of your fire, and among the torches that you have kindled. You will have this from my hand: you will lie down in sorrow.
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!”

< Isaiah 50 >