Loading…

The Lord’s Servant Obeys Him

50 The Lord says to the people in Jerusalem,

“Do you think I divorced your people 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 my arm 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 is dressed in black clothes.”

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 spit on me.

7 The Lord and King helps me.

He won’t let me be dishonored.

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.

They 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 him

depend on his God.

11 But all of 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.

NIrV

About New International Reader’s Version (1998)

The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) was developed to help early readers understand the Bible. Begun in 1992, the NIrV is a simplification of the New International Version (NIV). The NIrV uses shorter words and sentences so that those with a typical fourth grade reading level can comprehend what they are reading. The chapters have been separated into shorter sections and most have titles that clearly indicate what the section is all about. The NIrV will be a valuable translation to those for whom English is a second language. The NIrV still relies on the best and oldest copies of the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts for its translation, guaranteeing that those who read it are getting the actual Word of God.

Copyright

Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society.

All rights reserved.

The NIrV text may be quoted for non-commercial usage in any form (written, visual, electronic or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without the express written permission of the publisher, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible nor do the verses quoted account for twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted.

Notice of copyright must appear on the title or copyright page of the work as follows:

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION™. Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

When quotations from the NIrV text are used in non-saleable media, such as church bulletins, orders of service, posters, transparencies or similar media, a complete copyright notice is not required, but the initials (NIrV) must appear at the end of each quotation.

Any commentary or other Biblical reference work produced for commercial sale that uses the New International Reader’s Version must obtain written permission for use of the NIrV text.

Permission requests for commercial use within the U.S. and Canada that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, Zondervan, 5300 Patterson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530.

Permission requests for commercial use within the U.K., EEC, and EFTA countries that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, Hodder Headline Plc., 338 Euston Road, London NW1 3BH, England.

Permission requests for non-commercial usage that exceed the above guidelines must be directed to, and approved in writing by, International Bible Society, 1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921.

Support Info

nirv

Table of Contents