Isaiah 50

New American Standard Bible

God Helps His Servant

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Where is the ^(A)certificate of divorce
By which I have ^(B)sent your mother away?
Or to whom of My creditors did I ^(C)sell you?
Behold, you were sold for your ^(D)wrongdoings,
And for your ^(E)wrongful acts your mother ^(F)was sent away.
²Why was there ^(G)no one when I came?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Is My ^(H)hand so short that it cannot redeem?
Or do I have no power to rescue?
Behold, I ^(I)dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I ^(J)turn rivers into a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water,
And die of thirst.
³I ^(K)clothe the heavens with blackness,
And make sackcloth their covering.”

⁴The Lord ^[a]God has given Me the tongue of ^(L)disciples,
So that I may know how to ^(M)sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me ^(N)morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
⁵The Lord God has ^(O)opened My ear,
And I was ^(P)not disobedient,
Nor did I turn back.
⁶I ^(Q)gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pull out My beard;
I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.
⁷For the Lord God ^(R)helps Me,
Therefore, I am ^(S)not disgraced;
Therefore, I have made My face like ^(T)flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
⁸He who ^(U)vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us ^(V)stand up to each other.
Who has a case against Me?
Let him approach Me.
⁹Behold, ^(W)the Lord God helps Me;
^(X)Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, ^(Y)they will all wear out like a garment;
A moth will eat them.
¹⁰Who is among you who fears the Lord,
Who obeys the voice of His ^(Z)servant,
Who ^(AA)walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him ^(AB)trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
¹¹Behold, all you who ^(AC)kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with flaming arrows,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the flaming arrows you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will ^(AD)lie down in torment.