Isaiah 50

New Living Translation

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Was your mother sent away because I divorced her?
    Did I sell you as slaves to my creditors?
No, you were sold because of your sins.
    And your mother, too, was taken because of your sins.
²Why was no one there when I came?
    Why didn’t anyone answer when I called?
Is it because I have no power to rescue?
    No, that is not the reason!
For I can speak to the sea and make it dry up!
    I can turn rivers into deserts covered with dying fish.
³I dress the skies in darkness,
    covering them with clothes of mourning.”

The Lord’s Obedient Servant

⁴The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom,
    so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me
    and opens my understanding to his will.
⁵The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me,
    and I have listened.
    I have not rebelled or turned away.
⁶I offered my back to those who beat me
    and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.
I did not hide my face
    from mockery and spitting.

⁷Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
    determined to do his will.
    And I know that I will not be put to shame.
⁸He who gives me justice is near.
    Who will dare to bring charges against me now?
Where are my accusers?
    Let them appear!
⁹See, the Sovereign Lord is on my side!
    Who will declare me guilty?
All my enemies will be destroyed
    like old clothes that have been eaten by moths!

¹⁰Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys his servant?
If you are walking in darkness,
    without a ray of light,
trust in the Lord
    and rely on your God.
¹¹But watch out, you who live in your own light
    and warm yourselves by your own fires.
This is the reward you will receive from me:
    You will soon fall down in great torment.

Isaiah 50

International Standard Version

A Call to Return to God

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?
    Look! It’s because of your sins that you were sold,
        and because of your transgressions that your mother was sent away.
²Why is it that when I came, no one was there?
    Why was there no answer when I called?
Was my arm^[a] too short to redeem you?
    Do^[b] I lack the strength to rescue you?
Look! By my mere rebuke I dry up the sea,
    I turn rivers into a desert.
Their fish stink for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
³I clothe the skies with darkness
    and make sackcloth their covering.”

The Servant’s Obedience

⁴“The Lord God has given me
    a learned tongue, so that I may know
        how to sustain the weary with words.
And^[c] morning after morning he wakens,
    and^[d] he wakens my ear to
        listen like those who are being taught.
⁵My Lord God^[e] has opened my ears,
    and I did not rebel;
        I did not shrink back.
⁶I gave my back to those who beat me
    and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard.^[f]
I did not turn away^[g] my face
    from insults and spitting.
⁷For the Lord God helps me,
    so I won’t be disgraced.
Therefore I’ve made my face like flint,
    and I know that I won’t be put to shame.”

The Servant’s Vindication

⁸The one who vindicates me is near.
    Who, then, will bring a charge against me?
        Let’s face each other!
Who has a case against me?
    Let him confront me!
⁹See! It is the Lord God who will help me.
    Who is it that will declare me guilty?
See! They will all wear out like a garment;
    moths will eat them up.
¹⁰Who among you fears^[h] the Lord,
    obeying the voice of his servant,
who among you^[i] walks^[j] in darkness^[k]
    and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord,
    and rely upon his God.
¹¹Look! All those^[l] who light a fire,
    who surround yourselves with flaming torches—
walk by the light of your fire,
    and by the torches that you have set ablaze!
This is what you will receive from my hand:
    you will lie down in torment.

Footnotes

Isaiah 50:2 Lit. my hand
Isaiah 50:2 So 1QIsa^a; MT LXX read Or do
Isaiah 50:4 So 1QIsa^a; MT LXX lack And
Isaiah 50:4 So 1QIsa^a; MT LXX lack and
Isaiah 50:5 So 1QIsa^a; MT reads the Lord
Isaiah 50:6 So MT; 1QIsa^a employs an incorrect reading; LXX reads to blows
Isaiah 50:6 So 1QIsa^a LXX; MT reads hide
Isaiah 50:10 So 1QIsa^a (pl.); MT LXX read fear (sing.)
Isaiah 50:10 1QIsa^a MT LXX lack among you
Isaiah 50:10 So 1QIsa^a LXX (pl.); MT reads walks (sing.)
Isaiah 50:10 So 1QIsa^a; MT employs a different form
Isaiah 50:11 So 1QIsa^a; MT LXX read you

New Living Translation (NLT)

International Standard Version (ISV)

Isaiah 50 New Living Translation