1 T hus saith Jehovah: Where is the bill of your mother's divorce, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, through your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

The Lord says, “Where is the writing of your mother’s divorce, by which I have sent her away? To whom of those who owed Me money did I sell you? See, you were sold for your sins. For your wrong-doing your mother was sent away.

2 W herefore did I come, and there was no man? I called, and there was none to answer? Is my hand at all shortened that I cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make rivers a wilderness; their fish stink because there is no water, and die for thirst.

Why was there no man when I came? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is My hand so short that it cannot pay for your life? Have I no power to take you out of trouble? See, I dry up the sea with My sharp words. I make the rivers a desert. Their fish smell bad because they do not have enough water, and die of thirst.

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

I clothe the heavens with darkness. I make cloth made from hair its covering.”

4 T he Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of the instructed, that I should know how to succour by a word him that is weary. He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the instructed.

The Lord God has given Me the tongue of those who follow Him, that I may know how to give strength when I speak to one who is tired. He wakes Me up morning by morning. He wakes up My ear to listen as a follower.

5 T he Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not away back.

The Lord God has opened My ear, and I obeyed Him. I did not turn back.

6 I gave my back to smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

I gave My back to those who hit Me, and My face to those who pull out the hair on my face. I did not cover My face from shame and spit.

7 B ut the Lord Jehovah will help me: therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

For the Lord God helps Me, so I am not put to shame. I have set My face like hard stone, and know that I will not be ashamed.

8 H e is near that justifieth me: who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is mine adverse party? let him draw near unto me.

He Who shows I am right is near. Who will fight with Me? Let us stand up to each other. Who has something against Me? Let him come near to Me.

9 B ehold, the Lord Jehovah will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Behold, they all shall grow old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

See, the Lord God helps Me. Who will say that I am guilty? See, they will all wear out like a piece of clothing. The moth will eat them.

10 W ho is among you that feareth Jehovah, that hearkeneth to the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light,—let him confide in the name of Jehovah, and stay himself upon his God.

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of His Servant, yet walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and have faith in his God.

11 B ehold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and among the sparks ye have kindled. This shall ye have of my hand: ye shall lie down in sorrow.

See, all you who start a fire and put fire all around you! Walk in the light of your fire and among the pieces of wood you have started to burn. You will receive this from My hand: You will lie down in much suffering.