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God’s Servant Obeys

The Lord God gave me the ·ability to teach [L tongue of a student/learned one]
    so that I know what to say to make the ·weak [weary] strong.
Every morning he wakes me.
    He ·teaches me [L awakens my ear] to listen like a student [C this passage (50:4–11) is the third of four “servant songs” in Isaiah; see 42:1].
The Lord God ·helps me learn [or speaks clearly to me; L has opened my ear],
    and I have not ·turned against him [rebelled]
    nor ·stopped following him [turned away/back].
I offered my back to those who beat me.
    I offered my cheeks to those who ·pulled [ripped out] my beard.
I ·won’t [or did not] hide my face from them
    when they ·make fun of [mocked; insulted; shamed] me and spit at me [53:5; Matt. 26:67; 27:26; Mark 15:19; Luke 22:63].
The Lord God helps me,
    so I will not be ·ashamed [disgraced].
I ·will be determined [L have set my face like flint; Ezek. 3:8–9],
    and I know I will not be ·disgraced [put to shame].
He ·shows that I am innocent [vindicates], and he is ·close to me [near].
    So who can ·accuse me [bring charges against me; Rom. 8:33–34]?
    If there is someone, let us ·go to court [L stand up] together.
·If someone wants to prove I have done wrong [L Who are my accusers?],
    he should ·come and tell [challenge; L come near] me.
Look! It is the Lord God who helps me.
    So who can ·prove me guilty [condemn me]?
Look! All those who try will ·become useless like old clothes [wear out like a garment];
    moths will eat them.

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The Lord God has given Me [His [a]Servant] the tongue of disciples [as One who is taught],
That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught].

The Lord God has opened My ear,
And I have not been rebellious
Nor have I turned back.

I turned My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.(A)

For the Lord God helps Me,
Therefore, I have not been ashamed or humiliated.
Therefore, I have made My face like flint,
And I know that I shall not be put to shame.(B)

He who declares Me in the right is near;
Who will [dare to] contend with Me?
Let us stand up to each other;
Who is My adversary?
Let him approach Me.(C)

In fact, the Lord God helps Me;
Who is he who condemns Me [as guilty]?
Indeed, they will all wear out like a garment;
The moth will eat them.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 50:4 I.e. the Messiah.