Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce(A)
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
    did I sell(B) you?
Because of your sins(C) you were sold;(D)
    because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
When I came, why was there no one?
    When I called, why was there no one to answer?(E)
Was my arm too short(F) to deliver you?
    Do I lack the strength(G) to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke(H) I dry up the sea,(I)
    I turn rivers into a desert;(J)
their fish rot for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
I clothe the heavens with darkness(K)
    and make sackcloth(L) its covering.”

The Sovereign Lord(M) has given me a well-instructed tongue,(N)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.(O)
He wakens me morning by morning,(P)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.(Q)
The Sovereign Lord(R) has opened my ears;(S)
    I have not been rebellious,(T)
    I have not turned away.
I offered my back to those who beat(U) me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;(V)
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.(W)
Because the Sovereign Lord(X) helps(Y) me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,(Z)
    and I know I will not be put to shame.(AA)
He who vindicates(AB) me is near.(AC)
    Who then will bring charges against me?(AD)
    Let us face each other!(AE)
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
It is the Sovereign Lord(AF) who helps(AG) me.
    Who will condemn(AH) me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths(AI) will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears(AJ) the Lord
    and obeys(AK) the word of his servant?(AL)
Let the one who walks in the dark,
    who has no light,(AM)
trust(AN) in the name of the Lord
    and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,(AO)
go, walk in the light of your fires(AP)
    and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:(AQ)
    You will lie down in torment.(AR)

Everlasting Salvation for Zion

51 “Listen(AS) to me, you who pursue righteousness(AT)
    and who seek(AU) the Lord:
Look to the rock(AV) from which you were cut
    and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham,(AW) your father,
    and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
    and I blessed him and made him many.(AX)
The Lord will surely comfort(AY) Zion(AZ)
    and will look with compassion on all her ruins;(BA)
he will make her deserts like Eden,(BB)
    her wastelands(BC) like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness(BD) will be found in her,
    thanksgiving(BE) and the sound of singing.

“Listen to me, my people;(BF)
    hear me,(BG) my nation:
Instruction(BH) will go out from me;
    my justice(BI) will become a light to the nations.(BJ)
My righteousness draws near speedily,
    my salvation(BK) is on the way,(BL)
    and my arm(BM) will bring justice to the nations.
The islands(BN) will look to me
    and wait in hope(BO) for my arm.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
    look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,(BP)
    the earth will wear out like a garment(BQ)
    and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation(BR) will last forever,(BS)
    my righteousness will never fail.(BT)

“Hear me, you who know what is right,(BU)
    you people who have taken my instruction to heart:(BV)
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
    or be terrified by their insults.(BW)
For the moth will eat them up like a garment;(BX)
    the worm(BY) will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,(BZ)
    my salvation through all generations.”

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