1Hør, hvad Herren siger: „Var det, fordi jeg manglede penge, at jeg solgte jer som slaver og lod et fremmed folk føre jer bort? Eller er det min skyld, at vi er blevet skilt, mit folk? Nej, det var jeres mange synder, som gjorde, at I blev solgt. Jeres ulydighed var skyld i, at vi måtte skilles.2Hvorfor var der ingen i huset, når jeg kom hjem? Hvorfor var der ingen, der svarede, når jeg kom til døren og kaldte? Har jeg ikke magt nok til at føre jer hjem igen? Med et ord kan jeg tørlægge havene og gøre floder til ørken, så fiskene dør af tørst og ligger rådne overalt.3Jeg er den, der klæder universet i mørke og lægger et dække over jorden om natten.”
Herrens lydige tjener
4Gud Herren lærer mig, hvad jeg skal sige, så mine ord kan styrke de trætte. Hver morgen vækker han mig og giver mig indsigt i sin vilje.5Gud Herren har givet mig åbne ører, jeg lytter til ham og adlyder hans ord. Jeg kommer ikke med indvendinger eller dårlige undskyldninger.6Jeg er blevet pisket, revet i skægget, spyttet i ansigtet, ja, hånet på alle måder.7Men Gud Herren er med mig og hjælper mig. Han skuffer mig ikke. Derfor bliver jeg ved med at gøre hans vilje, for jeg ved, at det er umagen værd.8Han, som står bag mig, er nær. Hvis nogen vil anklage mig eller modsige mig, så lad dem blot komme an.9Hvem tør dømme mig skyldig, når Gud Herren står bag mig? De vil gå til som gammelt tøj, der bliver ædt op af møl.10Hvis nogen iblandt jer har ærefrygt for Herren, så hør, hvad hans tjener siger. Når det ser sort ud, og I ikke kan få øje på nogle lyspunkter, så stol på Herren og bed ham om hjælp.11Men de, som planlægger ødelæggelse, skal rammes af deres egne onde planer. De skal rammes af de pinsler, de har tiltænkt andre. Det vil Herren selv sørge for.
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. (5.Mos 24,1; 2.Kong 4,1; Es 59,2; Jer 3,8; Hos 2,2; Matt 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. (2.Mos 7,18; 2.Mos 7,21; 2.Mos 14,21; 4.Mos 11,23; Josva 3,16; Salm 104,7; Salm 106,9; Es 19,5; Es 42,18; Es 59,1; Nah 1,4)3I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.” (Jer 14,22; Åb 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. (2.Mos 4,11; Es 40,1; Matt 11,28)5The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. (Salm 40,6; Joh 14,31; Filip 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. (Es 53,5; Matt 26,67; Matt 27,26; Mark 15,19; Luk 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. (Ez 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. (Rom 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. (Es 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. (Es 42,16; Es 49,2; Es 50,4; Mika 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)