1 T hus said Jehovah: `Where this -- the bill of your mother's divorce, Whom I sent away? Or to which of My creditors have I sold you? Lo, for your iniquities ye have been sold, And for your transgressions Hath your mother been sent away.

Thus says the Lord: “Where is the certificate of your mother’s divorce, Whom I have put away? Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you? For your iniquities you have sold yourselves, And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.

2 W herefore have I come, and there is no one? I called, and there is none answering, Hath My hand been at all short of redemption? And is there not in me power to deliver? Lo, by My rebuke I dry up a sea, I make rivers a wilderness, Their fish stinketh, for there is no water, And dieth with thirst.

Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; Their fish stink because there is no water, And die of thirst.

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

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

4 T he Lord Jehovah hath given to me The tongue of taught ones, To know to aid the weary a word, He waketh morning by morning, He waketh for me an ear to hear as taught ones.

“The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned.

5 T he Lord Jehovah opened for me the ear, And I rebelled not -- backward I moved not.

The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away.

6 M y back I have given to those smiting, And my cheeks to those plucking out, My face I hid not from shame and spitting.

I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.

7 A nd the Lord Jehovah giveth help to me, Therefore I have not been ashamed, Therefore I have set my face as a flint, And I know that I am not ashamed.

“For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.

8 N ear He who is justifying me, Who doth contend with me? We stand together, who mine opponent? Let him come nigh unto me.

He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.

9 L o, the Lord Jehovah giveth help to me, Who he that declareth me wicked? Lo, all of them as a garment wear out, A moth doth eat them.

Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up.

10 W ho among you, fearing Jehovah, Hearkening to the voice of His servant, That hath walked in dark places, And there is no brightness for him? Let him trust in the name of Jehovah, And lean upon his God.

“Who among you fears the Lord ? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God.

11 L o, all ye kindling a fire, girding on sparks, Walk ye in the light of your fire, And in the sparks ye have caused to burn, From my hand hath this been to you, In grief ye lie down!

Look, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled— This you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in torment.