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50 Yahweh says, “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away?
    Or to which of my creditors have I sold you?
Behold, you were sold for your iniquities,
    and your mother was put away for your transgressions.
Why, when I came, was there no one?
    When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Is my hand shortened at all, that it can’t redeem?
    Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea.
    I make the rivers a wilderness.
    Their fish stink because there is no water, and die of thirst.
I clothe the heavens with blackness.
    I make sackcloth their covering.”

The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught,
    that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary.
He awakens morning by morning,
    he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear.
    I was not rebellious.
    I have not turned back.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
    and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair.
    I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting.
For the Lord Yahweh will help me.
    Therefore I have not been confounded.
Therefore I have set my face like a flint,
    and I know that I won’t be disappointed.
He who justifies me is near.
    Who will bring charges against me?
Let us stand up together.
    Who is my adversary?
    Let him come near to me.
Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me!
    Who is he who will condemn me?
Behold, they will all grow old like a garment.
    The moths will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears Yahweh
    and obeys the voice of his servant?
He who walks in darkness
    and has no light,
let him trust in Yahweh’s name,
    and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
    who adorn yourselves with torches around yourselves,
walk in the flame of your fire,
    and among the torches that you have kindled.
You will have this from my hand:
    you will lie down in sorrow.

50 Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away. Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of [a]them that are taught, that I may know how [b]to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as [c]they that are taught. The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand up together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord Jehovah will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? behold, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? [d]he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God. 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that gird yourselves about with firebrands; walk ye in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of my hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 50:4 Or, disciples
  2. Isaiah 50:4 Or, to speak a word in season to him etc.
  3. Isaiah 50:4 Or, disciples
  4. Isaiah 50:10 Or, though he walketh

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)