Israel's Sin And The Servant's Obedience

1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's 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.

1 Thus says the Lord,“Where is the (A)certificate of divorceBy which I have (B)sent your mother away?Or to whom of My creditors did I (C)sell you?Behold, you were sold for your (D)iniquities,And for your (E)transgressions your mother (F)was sent away.

1 This is what the Lord says:Where is your mother’s divorce certificatethat I used to send her away?(A)Or who were My creditors that I sold you to?(B)Look, you were sold for your iniquities,(C)and your mother was put awaybecause of your transgressions.

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? Look! It's because of your sins that you were sold, and because of your transgressions that your mother was sent away.

1 (a)The Lord declares this;“Where is the certificate of divorceBy which I have sent your mother away, [O Israel]?Or to which one of My creditors did I sell you [as slaves]?In fact, You were sold for your wickedness [your sin, your injustice, your wrongdoing],And for your transgressions your mother was sent 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.

2 “Why was there (G)no man when I came?When I called, why was there none to answer?Is My (H)hand so short that it cannot ransom?Or have I no power to deliver?Behold, I (I)dry up the sea with My rebuke,I (J)make the rivers a wilderness;Their fish stink for lack of waterAnd die of thirst.

2 Why was no one there when I came?Why was there no one to answer when I called?Is My hand too short to redeem?(D)Or do I have no power to deliver?Look, I dry up the sea by My rebuke;(E)I turn the rivers into a wilderness;their fish rot because of lack of waterand die of thirst.

2 Why is it that when I came, no one was there? Why was there no answer when I called? Was my arm too short to redeem you? Do I lack the strength to rescue you? Look! By my mere rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert. Their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

2 “Why, when I came, was there no man [to greet Me]?When I called, why was there no one to answer?Is My hand really so short that it cannot redeem [My servants]?Or have I no power to rescue?Listen carefully, with My rebuke I dry up the sea,I make the rivers into a desert;Their fish stink because there is no waterAnd die of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

3 “I (K)clothe the heavens with blacknessAnd make sackcloth their covering.”

3 I dress the heavens in blackand make sackcloth their clothing.(F)

3 I clothe the skies with darkness and make sackcloth their covering."

3 “I clothe the heavens with the blackness [of storm clouds]And make sackcloth [of mourning] their clothing.”

The Servant's Vindication

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.

4 The Lord (a)God has given Me the tongue of (L)disciples,That I may know how to (M)sustain the weary one with a word.He awakens Me (N)morning by morning,He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

4 The Lord God has given Methe tongue of those who are instructed(G)to know how to sustain the weary with a word.He awakens Me each morning;He awakens My ear to listen like those being instructed.(H)

4 "The Lord GOD has given me a learned tongue, so that I may know how to sustain the weary with words. And morning after morning he wakens, and he wakens my ear to listen like those who are being taught.

4 The Lord God has given Me [His (b)Servant] the tongue of disciples [as One who is taught],That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.He awakens Me morning by morning,He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught].

5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

5 The Lord God has (O)opened My ear;And I was (P)not disobedientNor did I turn back.

5 The Lord God has opened My ear,and I was not rebellious;I did not turn back.(I)

5 My Lord GOD has opened my ears, and I did not rebel; I did not shrink back.

5 The Lord God has opened My ear,And I have not been rebelliousNor have I turned 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.

6 I (Q)gave My back to those who strike Me,And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting.

6 I gave My back to those who beat Me,and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard.I did not hide My face from scorn and spitting.(J)

6 I gave my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not turn away my face from insults and spitting.

6 I turned My back to those who strike Me,And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard;I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.(A)

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.

7 For the Lord God (R)helps Me,Therefore, I am (S)not disgraced;Therefore, I have set My face like (T)flint,And I know that I will not be ashamed.

7 The Lord God will help Me;therefore I have not been humiliated;therefore I have set My face like flint,(K)and I know I will not be put to shame.

7 For the Lord GOD helps me, so I won't be disgraced. Therefore I've made my face like flint, and I know that I won't be put to shame."

7 For the Lord God helps Me,Therefore, I have not been ashamed or humiliated.Therefore, I have made My face like flint,And I know that I shall not be put to shame.(B)

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.

8 He who (U)vindicates Me is near;Who will contend with Me?Let us (V)stand up to each other;Who has a case against Me?Let him draw near to Me.

8 The One who vindicates Me is near;(L)who will contend with Me?Let us confront each other.(a)Who has a case against Me?(b)Let him come near Me!

8 The one who vindicates me is near. Who, then, will bring a charge against me? Let's face each other! Who has a case against me? Let him confront me!

8 He who declares Me in the right is near;Who will [dare to] contend with Me?Let us stand up to each other;Who is My adversary?Let him approach Me.(C)

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.

9 Behold, (W)the Lord God helps Me;(X)Who is he who condemns Me?Behold, (Y)they will all wear out like a garment;The moth will eat them.

9 In truth, the Lord God will help Me;who will condemn Me?(M)Indeed, all of them will wear out like a garment;a moth will devour them.(N)

9 See! It is the Lord GOD who will help me. Who is it that will declare me guilty? See! They will all wear out like a garment; moths will eat them up.

9 In fact, the Lord God helps Me;Who is he who condemns Me [as guilty]?Indeed, they will all wear out like a garment;The moth will eat them.(D)

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.

10 Who is among you that fears the Lord,That obeys the voice of His (Z)servant,That (AA)walks in darkness and has no light?Let him (AB)trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

10 Who among you fears the Lord,listening to the voice of His Servant?(O)Who among you walks in darkness,and has no light?Let him trust in the name of Yahweh;let him lean on his God.

10 Who among you fears the LORD, obeying the voice of his servant, who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and rely upon his God.

10 Who is among you who fears the Lord,Who obeys the voice of His Servant,Yet who walks in darkness and has no light?Let him trust and be confident in the name of the Lord and let him rely on 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.

11 Behold, all you who (AC)kindle a fire,Who (b)encircle yourselves with firebrands,Walk in the light of your fireAnd among the brands you have set ablaze.This you will have from My hand:You will (AD)lie down in torment.

11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,who encircle yourselves with(c) firebrands;walk in the light of your fireand in the firebrands you have lit!This is what you’ll get from My hand:you will lie down in a place of torment.

11 Look! All those who light a fire, who surround yourselves with flaming torches walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have set ablaze! This is what you will receive from my hand: you will lie down in torment.

11 Listen carefully, all you who kindle your own fire [devising your own man-made plan of salvation],Who surround yourselves with torches,Walk by the light of your [self-made] fireAnd among the torches that you have set ablaze.But this you will have from My hand:You will lie down in [a place of] torment.(E)

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