1The LORD says to the people in Jerusalem, ‘Do you think I divorced your people who lived before you? Is that why I sent them away? If it is, show me the letter of divorce. I did not sell you into slavery to pay someone I owe. You were sold because you sinned against me. Your people were sent away because of their lawless acts.2When I came to save you, why didn’t anyone welcome me? When I called out to you, why didn’t anyone answer me? Wasn’t I powerful enough to set you free? Wasn’t I strong enough to save you? I dry up the sea with a single command. I turn rivers into a desert. Then fish rot because they do not have any water. They die because they are thirsty.3I make the sky turn dark. It looks as if it’s dressed in clothing sad people wear.’4The LORD and King has taught me what to say. He has taught me how to help those who are tired. He wakes me up every morning. He makes me want to listen like a good student.5The LORD and King has unplugged my ears. I’ve always obeyed him. I haven’t turned away from him.6I let my enemies beat me on my bare back. I let them pull the hair out of my beard. I didn’t turn my face away when they made fun of me and spat on me.7The LORD and King helps me. He won’t let me be dishonoured. So I’ve made up my mind to keep on serving him. I know he won’t let me be put to shame.8He is near. He will prove I haven’t done anything wrong. So who will bring charges against me? Let’s face each other in court! Who can bring charges against me? Let him come and face me!9The LORD and King helps me. So who will judge me? My enemies will be like clothes that moths have eaten up. My enemies will disappear.10Does anyone among you have respect for the LORD? Does anyone obey the message of the LORD’s servant? Let the person who walks in the dark trust in the LORD. Let the one who doesn’t have any light to guide them depend on their God.11But all you sinners who light fires should go ahead and walk in their light. You who carry flaming torches should walk in their light. Here’s what I’m going to do to you. I’ll make you lie down in great pain.
Isaiah 50
English Standard Version
Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience
1Thus says the Lord: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. (De 24:1; 2Ki 4:1; Isa 59:2; Jer 3:8; Ho 2:2; Mt 18:25)2Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst. (Ex 7:18; Ex 7:21; Ex 14:21; Nu 11:23; Jos 3:16; Ps 104:7; Ps 106:9; Isa 19:5; Isa 42:18; Isa 59:1; Na 1:4)3I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.” (Jer 14:22; Re 6:12)4The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. (Ex 4:11; Isa 40:1; Mt 11:28)5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. (Ps 40:6; Joh 14:31; Php 2:8; Heb 5:8; Heb 10:7)6I 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. (Isa 53:5; Mt 26:67; Mt 27:26; Mr 15:19; Lu 22:63)7But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. (Eze 3:8)8He 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. (Ro 8:33)9Behold, 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. (Isa 41:10)10Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. (Isa 42:16; Isa 49:2; Isa 50:4; Mic 7:8)11Behold, 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! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment. (Joh 9:39)