Isaiah 50

Common English Bible

50 The Lord says:
Where’s your mother’s divorce decree,
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which lender did I sell you?
    On account of your sins you were sold;
    on account of your transgressions
    your mother was sent away.
²Why did I come and find no one?
    Why did I call when no one answered?
Is my hand too small to redeem you?^[a]
    Don’t I have enough power to save?
With my rebuke I dry up the sea
    and make the rivers into wilderness.
Their fish stink from lack of water;
    they die of thirst.
³I clothe the heavens with darkness
    and cover them with funeral clothing.

God’s faithful servant

⁴The Lord God gave me an educated tongue
    to know how to respond to the weary
    with a word that will awaken them in the morning.^[b]
    God awakens my ear in the morning to listen,
    as educated people do.
⁵The Lord God opened my ear;
    I didn’t rebel; I didn’t turn my back.
⁶Instead, I gave my body to attackers,
    and my cheeks to beard pluckers.
I didn’t hide my face
    from insults and spitting.
⁷The Lord God will help me;
    therefore, I haven’t been insulted.
Therefore, I set my face like flint,
    and knew I wouldn’t be ashamed.
⁸The one who will declare me innocent is near.
    Who will argue with me?
Let’s stand up together.
    Who will bring judgment against me?
    Let him approach me.
⁹Look! The Lord God will help me.
    Who will condemn me?
Look, they will wear out like clothing;
    the moth will eat them.

¹⁰Who among you fears the Lord?
    Who listens to the voice of his servant,
    who walks in darkness
    and has no light?
They will trust in the Lord’s name,
    and rely upon their God.
¹¹Look! All of you are kindling fire,
    igniting torches.
    Walk by the light of your fire,
    by the torches you have ignited.
    This is what will happen to you by my hand:
    you will lie down in grief.