Isaiah 50:1-51:8

American Standard Version

50 Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away. ² Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? 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? 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. ³ I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

⁴ The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of ^[a]them that are taught, that I may know how ^[b]to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as ^[c]they that are taught. ⁵ The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward. ⁶ I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. ⁷ For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. ⁸ He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand up together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. ⁹ Behold, the Lord Jehovah 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.

¹⁰ Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? ^[d]he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God. ¹¹ Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that gird yourselves about with firebrands; walk ye in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of my hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

51 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek Jehovah: look unto the rock whence ye were hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye were digged. ² Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many. ³ For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

⁴ Attend unto me, O my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples. ⁵ My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall they trust. ⁶ Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die ^[e]in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

⁷ Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye dismayed at their revilings. ⁸ For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation unto all generations.