^{1     [a]}Thus says the Lord:
    Where is your mother’s bill of divorce
    by which I repudiated her?
Or which creditor of mine was it
    to whom I sold you?
No, you were sold because of your sins,
    and your mother was repudiated,
    because of your rebellious acts.
² Why was no one there when I came?
    Why did no one answer when I called?
Is my hand too short to redeem?
    Have I no power to deliver?
By my rebuke I can dry up the sea
    and turn the rivers into a desert.
Their fish rot for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
³ Did I not clothe the heavens in black
    and cover them with sackcloth?
^{4     [b]}The Lord God has given me
    the tongue of one who has been well taught
so that I am able to console the weary
    with a message of encouragement.
Morning after morning he opens my ears
    so that I may listen to their concerns.
⁵ And I have not rebelled,
    I have not turned away.
⁶ I offered my back to those who struck me,
    my cheeks to those who plucked my beard.
I did not shield my face
    from insults and spitting.
⁷ The Lord God is my help;
    therefore I have not been disgraced.
Rather, I have set my face like flint,
    knowing that I will not be put to shame.
⁸ He who upholds me is near;
    thus, if anyone wishes to oppose me,
    let us confront each other.
Is there anyone who has a case against me?
    Let him come forward.
⁹ The Lord God is my defender;
    who then will dare to condemn me?
All of them will wear out like a garment
    the moth will devour them.
¹⁰ Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys his servant’s voice?
Who among you walks in darkness
    without any light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord
    and rely on his God.
¹¹ But all of you kindle a fire
    and arm yourselves with firebrands.
Walk by the light of your fire
    and the firebrands that you have set ablaze.
This is what you will receive from my hand:
    you will lie down in torment.