50 This is what the Lord says:

Where is your mother’s divorce certificate
that I used to send her away?(A)
Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?(B)
Look, you were sold for your iniquities,(C)
and your mother was sent away
because of your transgressions.
Why was no one there when I came?
Why was there no one to answer when I called?
Is my arm too weak to redeem?(D)
Or do I have no power to rescue?
Look, I dry up the sea by my rebuke;(E)
I turn the rivers into a wilderness;
their fish rot because of lack of water
and die of thirst.
I dress the heavens in black
and make sackcloth their covering.(F)

The Obedient Servant

The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are instructed(G)
to know how to sustain the weary with a word.
He awakens me each morning;
he awakens my ear to listen like those being instructed.(H)
The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I did not turn back.(I)
I gave my back to those who beat me,
and my cheeks to those who tore out my beard.
I did not hide my face from scorn and spitting.(J)

The Lord God will help me;
therefore I have not been humiliated;
therefore I have set my face like flint,(K)
and I know I will not be put to shame.
The one who vindicates me is near;(L)
who will contend with me?
Let us confront each other.[a]
Who has a case against me?[b]
Let him come near me!

In truth, the Lord God will help me;
who will condemn me?(M)
Indeed, all of them will wear out like a garment;
a moth will devour them.(N)
10 Who among you fears the Lord
and listens to his servant?(O)
Who among you walks in darkness,
and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord;
let him lean on his God.
11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,
who encircle yourselves with[c] torches;
walk in the light of your fire
and of the torches you have lit!
This is what you’ll get from my hand:
you will lie down in a place of torment.

Footnotes

  1. 50:8 Lit us stand
  2. 50:8 Lit Who is lord of my judgment
  3. 50:11 Syr reads who set ablaze

50 The Lord says:
Where’s your mother’s divorce decree,
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which lender did I sell you?
    On account of your sins you were sold;
    on account of your transgressions
    your mother was sent away.
Why did I come and find no one?
    Why did I call when no one answered?
Is my hand too small to redeem you?[a]
    Don’t I have enough power to save?
With my rebuke I dry up the sea
    and make the rivers into wilderness.
Their fish stink from lack of water;
    they die of thirst.
I clothe the heavens with darkness
    and cover them with funeral clothing.

God’s faithful servant

The Lord God gave me an educated tongue
    to know how to respond to the weary
    with a word that will awaken them in the morning.[b]
    God awakens my ear in the morning to listen,
    as educated people do.
The Lord God opened my ear;
    I didn’t rebel; I didn’t turn my back.
Instead, I gave my body to attackers,
    and my cheeks to beard pluckers.
I didn’t hide my face
    from insults and spitting.
The Lord God will help me;
    therefore, I haven’t been insulted.
Therefore, I set my face like flint,
    and knew I wouldn’t be ashamed.
The one who will declare me innocent is near.
    Who will argue with me?
Let’s stand up together.
    Who will bring judgment against me?
    Let him approach me.
Look! The Lord God will help me.
    Who will condemn me?
Look, they will wear out like clothing;
    the moth will eat them.

10 Who among you fears the Lord?
    Who listens to the voice of his servant,
    who walks in darkness
    and has no light?
They will trust in the Lord’s name,
    and rely upon their God.
11 Look! All of you are kindling fire,
    igniting torches.
    Walk by the light of your fire,
    by the torches you have ignited.
    This is what will happen to you by my hand:
    you will lie down in grief.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 50:2 Heb lacks you.
  2. Isaiah 50:4 Heb uncertain