Israel's Sin and the Servant's Obedience

50 Thus says the Lord:
“Where is (A)your mother's certificate of divorce,
    with which (B)I sent her away?
Or (C)which of my creditors is it
    to whom I have sold you?
(D)Behold, for your iniquities you were sold,
    and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
(E)Why, when I came, was there no man;
    why, when I called, was there no one to answer?
(F)Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?
    Or have I no power to deliver?
(G)Behold, by my rebuke (H)I dry up the sea,
    (I)I make the rivers a desert;
(J)their fish stink for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
(K)I clothe the heavens with blackness
    and make sackcloth their covering.”

The Lord God has given (L)me
    the tongue of those who are taught,
that (M)I may know how to sustain with a word
    (N)him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught.
(O)The Lord God has opened my ear,
    (P)and I was not rebellious;
    I turned not backward.
(Q)I gave my back to those who strike,
    and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face
    from disgrace and spitting.

But the Lord God helps me;
    therefore I have not been disgraced;
(R)therefore I have set my face like a flint,
    and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
    (S)He who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
    Let us stand up together.
Who is my adversary?
    Let him come near to me.
(T)Behold, the Lord God helps me;
    who will declare me guilty?
Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment;
    the moth will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys (U)the voice of his servant?
(V)Let him who walks in darkness
    and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
    and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
    who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
    and by the torches that you have kindled!
(W)This you have from my hand:
    you shall lie down in torment.

猶大因罪見棄非耶和華無力救贖

50 耶和華如此說:「我休你們的母親,休書在哪裡呢?我將你們賣給我哪一個債主呢?你們被賣,是因你們的罪孽;你們的母親被休,是因你們的過犯。 我來的時候,為何無人等候呢?我呼喚的時候,為何無人答應呢?我的膀臂豈是縮短,不能救贖嗎?我豈無拯救之力嗎?看哪,我一斥責,海就乾了,我使江河變為曠野,其中的魚因無水腥臭,乾渴而死。 我使諸天以黑暗為衣服,以麻布為遮蓋。」

奉命傳道甘受凌辱

「主耶和華賜我受教者的舌頭,使我知道怎樣用言語扶助疲乏的人。主每早晨提醒,提醒我的耳朵,使我能聽,像受教者一樣。 主耶和華開通我的耳朵,我並沒有違背,也沒有退後。 人打我的背,我任他打;人拔我腮頰的鬍鬚,我由他拔;人辱我吐我,我並不掩面。

知主佑助心志益堅

「主耶和華必幫助我,所以我不抱愧。我硬著臉面好像堅石,我也知道我必不致蒙羞。 稱我為義的與我相近。誰與我爭論?可以與我一同站立!誰與我作對?可以就近我來! 主耶和華要幫助我,誰能定我有罪呢?他們都像衣服漸漸舊了,為蛀蟲所咬。」

宜賴神勿恃己能

10 「你們中間誰是敬畏耶和華,聽從他僕人之話的?這人行在暗中,沒有亮光,當倚靠耶和華的名,仗賴自己的神。 11 凡你們點火用火把圍繞自己的,可以行在你們的火焰裡,並你們所點的火把中!這是我手所定的:你們必躺在悲慘之中。