Israel's Sin And The Servant's Obedience

1 This is the word of the Lord: Where is the statement which I gave your mother when I put her away? or to which of my creditors have I given you for money? It was for your sins that you were given into the hands of others, and for your evil-doing was 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 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 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.

2 Why, then, when I came, was there no man? and no one to give answer to my voice? has my hand become feeble, so that it is unable to take up your cause? or have I no power to make you free? See, at my word the sea becomes dry, I make the rivers a waste land: their fish are dead for need of water, and make an evil smell.

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 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 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.

3 By me the heavens are clothed with black, and I make haircloth their robe.

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

3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I 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."

The Servant's Vindication

4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are experienced, so that I may be able to give the word a special sense for the feeble: every morning my ear is open to his teaching, like those who are experienced:

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 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 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.

5 And I have not put myself against him, or let my heart be turned back from him.

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

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

6 I was offering my back to those who gave me blows, and my face to those who were pulling out my hair: I did not keep my face covered from marks of shame.

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 the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame 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.

7 For the Lord God is my helper; I will not be put to shame: so I have made my face like a rock, and I am certain that he will give me my right.

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 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 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."

8 He who takes up my cause is near; who will go to law with me? let us come together before the judge: who is against me? 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 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 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!

9 See, the Lord God is my helper; who will give a decision against me? truly, all of them will become old like a robe; they will be food for the worm.

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 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 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.

10 Who among you has the fear of the Lord, giving ear to the voice of his servant who has been walking in the dark and has no light? Let him put his faith in the name of the Lord, looking to his God for support.

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 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 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.

11 See, all you who make a fire, arming yourselves with burning branches: go in the flame of your fire, and among the branches you have put a light to. This will you have from my hand, you will make your bed 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 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 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.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

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