Isaiah 50

¹Thus says the Lord: Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce , with which I sent her away ? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold , for your iniquities you were sold , and for your transgressions your mother was sent away .

²Why , when I came , was there no man ; why, when I called , was there no one to answer ? Is my hand shortened , that it cannot redeem ? Or have I no power to deliver ? Behold , by my rebuke I dry up the sea , I make the rivers a desert ; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst .

³I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering .

⁴The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught , that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary . Morning by morning he awakens ; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught .

⁵The Lord God has opened my ear , and I was not rebellious ; I turned not backward .

⁶I gave my back to those who strike , and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard ; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting .

⁷But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced ; therefore I have set my face like a flint , and I know that I shall not be put to shame .

⁸He who vindicates me is near . Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together . Who is my adversary ? Let him come near to me.

⁹Behold , the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty ? Behold , all of them will wear out like a garment ; the moth will eat them up .

¹⁰Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant ? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God .

¹¹Behold , all you who kindle a fire , who equip yourselves with burning torches ! Walk by the light of your fire , and by the torches that you have kindled ! This you have from my hand : you shall lie down in torment .