1 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, 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, for your iniquities ye are sold, and for your rebellions was your mother put away,

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

2 f or I came, and no one showed himself; I called, and no one answered. Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink because there is no water and die for thirst.

Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, why was there no one to answer? Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink because there is no water, and they die of thirst.

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

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

4 ¶ The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the wise that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary; he wakes up early, early shall he awaken my ear, that I might hear, as the wise.

'> Servant of God says] The Lord God has given Me the tongue of a disciple and of one who is taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He wakens Me morning by morning, He wakens My ear to hear as a disciple.

5 T he Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

The Lord God has opened My ear, and I have not been rebellious or turned backward.

6 I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to those that plucked off the hair: I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.

I gave My back to the smiters and My cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I hid not My face from shame and spitting.

7 F or the Lord GOD will help me; therefore, I was not ashamed; therefore, I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

For the Lord God helps Me; therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded. Therefore have I set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.

8 H e is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is my adversary? let him come near to me.

He is near Who declares Me in the right. Who will contend with Me? Let us stand forth together! Who is My adversary? Let him come near to Me.

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

Behold, the Lord God will help Me; who is he who will condemn Me? Behold, they all will wax old and be worn out as a garment; the moth will eat them up.

10 ¶ Who is among you that fears the LORD? Hearken unto the voice of his slave. He who walked in darkness and had no light; let him trust in the name of the LORD and stay upon his God.

Who is among you who fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor ? Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God.

11 B ehold, that all of you kindle fire and are compassed about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire and of the sparks that ye have kindled. From my hand has come this; ye shall be buried in sorrow.

Behold, all you who attempt to kindle your own fires, who surround and gird yourselves with momentary sparks, darts, and firebrands that you set aflame!—walk by the light of your self-made fire and of the sparks that you have kindled! But this shall you have from My hand: you shall lie down in grief and in torment.