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50 The Lord saith these things, What is this book of forsaking of your mother, by which I let go her? either who is he, to whom I owe, to whom I sold you? [or whom is my creancer (or who is my creditor), to whom I sold you?] For lo! ye be sold for your wickednesses, and for your great trespasses I let go your mother. (The Lord saith these things, Where is the book of the forsaking, or for the divorcing, of your mother, by which I let her go? or who is he to whom I owed, and so to whom I sold you? For lo! ye were sold because of your wickednesses, and because of your great trespasses, I let your mother go.)

For I came, and no man was; I called, and none was that heard. Whether mine hand is abridged, and made little, that I may not again-buy? either strength is not in me for to deliver? Lo! in my blaming I shall make the sea forsaken, either desert, I shall set floods in(to) the dry place; fishes without water shall wax rotten, and shall die for thirst. (For I came, but there was no one there; I called, but no one heard me. Is my hand shortened, yea, is my power made so little, that I cannot redeem, or cannot rescue, you? or is strength not in me to save you? Lo! by my command I can make the sea into a desert, and I can make rivers into a dry place, and the fish grow rotten for a lack of water, and die of thirst.)

I shall clothe (the) heavens with darknesses, and I shall set a sackcloth (to be) the covering of them.

The Lord gave to me a learned tongue, that I know how to sustain him by (a) word that failed; early the father raiseth [up], early he raiseth [up] an ear to me, that I hear as a master. (The Lord gave me a learned tongue, so that I know how to sustain with a word him who faileth; early the Father raiseth up, yea, early he raiseth up an ear for me, so that I might hear like a master.)

The Lord God opened an ear to me; forsooth I against-say not, I went not aback. (The Lord God opened my ears; and I did not rebel, nor did I turn away from him.)

I gave my body to [the] smiters, and my cheeks to [the] pullers; I turned not away my face from men blaming, and spitting on me. (I gave my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to the hair-pullers; I did not turn my face away from those who shamed me, and who spat upon me.)

The Lord God is mine helper, and therefore I am not shamed; therefore I have set my face as a stone made hard, and I know that I shall not be shamed.

He is nigh, that justifieth me (He is near, who justifieth me); who against-saith me? stand we together. Who is mine adversary? nigh he to me.

Lo! the Lord God is mine helper; who therefore is he that condemneth me? Lo! all shall be defouled as a cloth, and a moth shall eat them (Lo! they all shall be defiled like a cloak, and a moth shall eat them up).

10 Who of you dreadeth the Lord, and heareth the voice of his servant? Who(ever) went in darknesses, and light is not to him, hope he in the name of the Lord, and trust he on his God (and trust he in his God).

11 Lo! all ye kindling fire, and gird with flames, go in the light of your fire, and in the flames which ye have kindled to you. This is made of mine hand to you, ye shall sleep in sorrows. (Lo! all ye kindling a fire, and gird with flames, go in the light of your own fire, and in the flames which ye have kindled for yourselves. This is made by my hand for you, and ye shall sleep in sorrows.)

Israel Was Punished for Its Sin

50 This is what the Lord says:

“People of Israel, you say I divorced your mother.
    Then where is the paper that proves it?
Or do you think I sold you
    to pay a debt?
Because of the evil things you did, I sold you.
    Because of the times she turned against me, your mother was sent away.
I came home and found no one there;
    I called, but no one answered.
Do you think I am not able to save you?
    Do I not have the power to save you?
Look, I need only to shout and the sea becomes dry.
    I change rivers into a desert,
and their fish rot because there is no water;
    they die of thirst.
I can make the skies dark;
    I can make them black like clothes of sadness.”

God’s Servant Obeys

The Lord God gave me the ability to teach
    so that I know what to say to make the weak strong.
Every morning he wakes me.
    He teaches me to listen like a student.
The Lord God helps me learn,
    and I have not turned against him
    nor stopped following him.
I offered my back to those who beat me.
    I offered my cheeks to those who pulled my beard.
I won’t hide my face from them
    when they make fun of me and spit at me.
The Lord God helps me,
    so I will not be ashamed.
I will be determined,
    and I know I will not be disgraced.
He shows that I am innocent, and he is close to me.
    So who can accuse me?
    If there is someone, let us go to court together.
If someone wants to prove I have done wrong,
    he should come and tell me.
Look! It is the Lord God who helps me.
    So who can prove me guilty?
Look! All those who try will become useless like old clothes;
    moths will eat them.

10 Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys his servant?
That person may walk in the dark
    and have no light.
Then let him trust in the Lord
    and yet depend on his God.
11 But instead, some of you want to light your own fires
    and make your own light.
So, go, walk in the light of your fires,
    and trust your own light to guide you.
But this is what you will receive from me:
    You will lie down in a place of pain.