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Isaiah 50

Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience

1 Thus says the Lord:
“Where is ^ayour mother’s certificate of divorce,
with which ^bI sent her away?
Or ^cwhich of my creditors is it
to whom I have sold you?
^dBehold, for your iniquities you were sold,
and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 ^eWhy, when I came, was there no man;
why, when I called, was there no one to answer?
^fIs my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
^gBehold, by my rebuke ^hI dry up the sea,
ⁱI make the rivers a desert;
^jtheir fish stink for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 ^kI clothe the heavens with blackness
and make sackcloth their covering.”
4 The Lord God has given ^lme
the tongue of those who are taught,
that ^mI may know how to sustain with a word
ⁿhim who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
5 ^oThe Lord God has opened my ear,
^pand I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
6 ^qI 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.
7 But the Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
^rtherefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 ^sHe 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.
9 ^tBehold, 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.
10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys ^uthe voice of his servant?
^vLet him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, 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!
^wThis you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.