Isaiah 50

Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience

50This is what the Lord says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorceⁿ

with which I sent her away?

Or to which of my creditors

did I sell^o you?

Because of your sins^p you were sold;^q

because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.

²When I came, why was there no one?

When I called, why was there no one to answer?^r

Was my arm too short^s to deliver you?

Do I lack the strength^t to rescue you?

By a mere rebuke^u I dry up the sea,^v

I turn rivers into a desert;^w

their fish rot for lack of water

and die of thirst.

³I clothe the heavens with darkness^x

and make sackcloth^y its covering.”

⁴The Sovereign Lord^z has given me a well-instructed tongue,^a

to know the word that sustains the weary.^b

He wakens me morning by morning,^c

wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.^d

⁵The Sovereign Lord^e has opened my ears;^f

I have not been rebellious,^g

I have not turned away.

⁶I offered my back to those who beat^h me,

my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;ⁱ

I did not hide my face

from mocking and spitting.^j

⁷Because the Sovereign Lord^k helps^l me,

I will not be disgraced.

Therefore have I set my face like flint,^m

and I know I will not be put to shame.ⁿ

⁸He who vindicates^o me is near.^p

Who then will bring charges against me?^q

Let us face each other!^r

Who is my accuser?

Let him confront me!

⁹It is the Sovereign Lord^s who helps^t me.

Who will condemn^u me?

They will all wear out like a garment;

the moths^v will eat them up.

¹⁰Who among you fears^w the Lord

and obeys^x the word of his servant?^y

Let the one who walks in the dark,

who has no light,^z

trust^a in the name of the Lord

and rely on their God.

¹¹But now, all you who light fires

and provide yourselves with flaming torches,^b

go, walk in the light of your fires^c

and of the torches you have set ablaze.

This is what you shall receive from my hand:^d

You will lie down in torment.^e