Isaiah 50 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience

1 Thus 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)

De 24:12Ki 4:1Isa 59:2Jer 3:8Ho 2:2Mt 18:25

2 Why, 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)

Ex 7:18Ex 7:21Ex 14:21Nu 11:23Jos 3:16Ps 104:7Ps 106:9Isa 19:5Isa 42:18Isa 59:1Na 1:4

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness and make sackcloth their covering.” (Jer 14:22; Re 6:12) 4 The 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) 5 The 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)

Ps 40:6Joh 14:31Php 2:8Heb 5:8Heb 10:7

6 I 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)

Isa 53:5Mt 26:67Mt 27:26Mr 15:19Lu 22:63

7 But 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) 8 He 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) 9 Behold, 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) 10 Who 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)

Isa 42:16Isa 49:2Isa 50:4Mic 7:8

11 Behold, 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)

New International Version

Israel’s sin and the servant’s obedience

1 This is what the Lord says: ‘Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away. 2 When I came, why was there no-one? When I called, why was there no-one to answer? Was my arm too short to deliver you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? By a mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; their fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with darkness and make sackcloth its covering.’ 4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. 5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears; I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away. 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! 9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up. 10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. 11 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: you will lie down in torment.

New International Reader’s Version

Israel sins but the Lord’s servant obeys

1 The 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. 2 When 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. 3 I make the sky turn dark. It looks as if it’s dressed in clothing sad people wear.’ 4 The 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. 5 The LORD and King has unplugged my ears. I’ve always obeyed him. I haven’t turned away from him. 6 I 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. 7 The 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. 8 He 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! 9 The 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. 10 Does 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. 11 But 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.

King James Version

1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother' divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is 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 stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering. 4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 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 GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. 10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

Einheitsübersetzung 2016

1 So spricht der HERR: Wo ist denn die Scheidungsurkunde, / mit der ich eure Mutter fortgeschickt hätte? Wo ist mein Gläubiger, / dem ich euch verkauft hätte? Siehe, wegen eurer Verschuldungen wurdet ihr verkauft, / wegen eurer Verfehlungen wurde eure Mutter fortgeschickt. (De 24:1) 2 Warum war niemand da, als ich kam, / warum gab niemand Antwort, als ich rief? Ist meine Hand denn zu schwach, um zu befreien, / fehlt mir die Kraft, um zu retten? Seht, durch meine Drohung trockne ich das Meer aus. / Ich mache Flüsse zur Wüste, sodass ihre Fische verfaulen aus Mangel an Wasser / und sterben vor Durst. (Isa 59:1) 3 Ich kleide den Himmel in Schwarz / und bedecke ihn mit einem Trauergewand. (Re 6:12)

Der Jünger Gottes und sein Leiden

4 GOTT, der Herr, gab mir die Zunge von Schülern, / damit ich verstehe, die Müden zu stärken durch ein aufmunterndes Wort. Jeden Morgen weckt er mein Ohr, / damit ich höre, wie Schüler hören. 5 GOTT, der Herr, hat mir das Ohr geöffnet. / Ich aber wehrte mich nicht / und wich nicht zurück. 6 Ich hielt meinen Rücken denen hin, / die mich schlugen, und meine Wange denen, / die mir den Bart ausrissen. Mein Gesicht verbarg ich nicht / vor Schmähungen und Speichel. (Mt 26:67) 7 Und GOTT, der Herr, wird mir helfen; / darum werde ich nicht in Schande enden. Deshalb mache ich mein Gesicht hart wie einen Kiesel; / ich weiß, dass ich nicht in Schande gerate. (Eze 3:8) 8 Er, der mich freispricht, ist nahe. / Wer will mit mir streiten? Lasst uns zusammen vortreten! / Wer ist mein Gegner im Rechtsstreit? / Er trete zu mir heran. 9 Siehe, GOTT, der Herr, wird mir helfen. / Wer kann mich für schuldig erklären? Siehe, sie alle zerfallen / wie ein Gewand, das die Motten zerfressen. (Isa 51:8) 10 Wer von euch den HERRN fürchtet, / der höre auf die Stimme seines Knechtes. Wer im Dunkel lebt und wem kein Licht leuchtet, / der vertraue auf den Namen des HERRN / und verlasse sich auf seinen Gott. (Isa 9:1) 11 Ihr alle aber, die ihr Feuer legt / und Brandpfeile entzündet, lauft in die Glut eures eigenen Feuers / und in die Brandpfeile, die ihr entflammt habt. Durch meine Hand kommt das über euch; / am Ort der Qualen werdet ihr liegen.