Israels synd och Herrens tjänares lydnad

50 Så säger Herren: Var finns er mors skiljebrev,
det som jag har förskjutit henne med?
Eller till vilken av mina fordringsägare har jag sålt er?
Se, genom era missgärningar blev ni sålda,
och för era överträdelsers skull blev er mor förskjuten.
Varför var ingen där när jag kom?
    Varför svarade ingen när jag ropade?
Är min arm för kort för att friköpa er,
eller har jag ingen kraft till att hjälpa?
Se, genom min befallning torkar jag ut havet
och förvandlar strömmarna till öken.
Deras fiskar ruttnar av brist på vatten
och dör av törst.
Jag kläder himlen i mörker
    och ger den sorgdräkt att bära.

Herren Herren har givit mig en tunga med lärdom,
så att jag förstår att med mina ord hjälpa den trötte.
Han väcker var morgon mitt öra,
    han väcker det till att höra på lärjungasätt.
Herren Herren har öppnat mitt öra,
och jag har inte varit upprorisk,
    jag har inte vikit tillbaka.
Jag höll fram min rygg åt dem som slog mig
och mina kinder åt dem som ryckte ut mina skäggstrån.
Jag dolde inte mitt ansikte för hån och spott.

Herren Herren skall hjälpa mig,
    därför behöver jag inte skämmas,
därför gör jag mitt ansikte hårt som sten.
Jag vet att jag inte kommer på skam.
Den som förklarar mig rättfärdig är nära.
Vem vill då gå till rätta med mig?
    Må han träda fram tillsammans med mig.
Vem är min motpart?
    Låt honom komma hit.
Se, Herren Herren kommer att hjälpa mig.
Vem vill då döma mig skyldig?
    De skall alla slitas ut som ett klädesplagg,
mal skall förtära dem.

10 Vem bland er fruktar Herren
    och hör hans tjänares röst?
Om han än vandrar i mörkret
    och inte ser någon ljusning,
skall han förtrösta på Herrens namn
och stödja sig på sin Gud.
11 Men se, alla ni som tänder upp en eld
och omger er med brinnande pilar,
    vandra i lågorna från er eld
bland de brinnande pilar som ni har antänt.
Av min hand skall detta drabba er,
    ni kommer att ligga i kval.

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)

God Helps His Servant

50 Thus says the Lord,

“Where is the (A)certificate of divorce
By which I have (B)sent your mother away?
Or to whom of My creditors did I (C)sell you?
Behold, you were sold for your (D)iniquities,
And for your (E)transgressions your mother (F)was sent away.
“Why was there (G)no man when I came?
When I called, why was there none to answer?
Is My (H)hand so short that it cannot ransom?
Or have I no power to deliver?
Behold, I (I)dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I (J)make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water
And die of thirst.
“I (K)clothe the heavens with blackness
And make sackcloth their covering.”

The Lord [a]God has given Me the tongue of (L)disciples,
That I may know how to (M)sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me (N)morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
The Lord God has (O)opened My ear;
And I was (P)not disobedient
Nor did I turn back.
I (Q)gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;
I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.
For the Lord God (R)helps Me,
Therefore, I am (S)not disgraced;
Therefore, I have set My face like (T)flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
He who (U)vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us (V)stand up to each other;
Who has a case against Me?
Let him draw near to Me.
Behold, (W)the Lord God helps Me;
(X)Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, (Y)they will all wear out like a garment;
The moth will eat them.
10 Who is among you that fears the Lord,
That obeys the voice of His (Z)servant,
That (AA)walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him (AB)trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who (AC)kindle a fire,
Who [b]encircle yourselves with firebrands,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the brands you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will (AD)lie down in torment.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 50:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  2. Isaiah 50:11 Lit gird