1 So sê die HERE: Waar is tog die skeibrief van julle moeder waarmee Ek haar verstoot het? Of wie is daar van my skuldeisers aan wie Ek julle verkoop het? Kyk, weens jul ongeregtighede is julle verkoop, en weens jul oortredinge is julle moeder verstoot.

2 Waarom het Ek gekom en daar was niemand nie, het Ek geroep en niemand geantwoord nie? Is my hand werklik te kort om te verlos, of is daar in my geen krag om uit te red nie? Kyk, deur my dreiging maak Ek die see droog; Ek maak die riviere tot 'n woestyn, sodat hulle visse stink, omdat daar geen water is nie, en hulle sterwe van dors.

3 Ek beklee die hemel met swartheid en bedek dit met 'n roukleed.

4 Die Here HERE het My 'n geoefende tong gegee, dat Ek kan weet om die vermoeide te verkwik met woorde; Hy wek elke môre , Hy wek my oor om te hoor soos die leerlinge.

5 Die Here HERE het my oor geopen, en Ek was nie wederstrewig nie; Ek het nie agteruitgewyk nie.

6 Ek het my rug gegee vir die wat slaan, en my wange vir die wat die hare uitpluk; my aangesig het Ek nie verberg vir smaadhede en bespuwing nie.

7 Maar die Here HERE help My; daarom kom Ek nie in die skande nie; daarom het Ek my aangesig gemaak soos 'n keisteen, en Ek weet dat Ek nie beskaamd sal staan nie.

8 Hy is naby wat My reg verskaf. Wie wil met My 'n regsaak begin? -- laat ons saam optree! Wie is my teëparty? -- laat hom nader kom na My toe!

9 Kyk, die Here HERE help My: wie is dit wat My kan veroordeel? Kyk, hulle sal almal verslyt soos 'n kleed; die mot sal hulle eet.

10 Wie is daar onder julle wat die HERE vrees, wat na die stem van sy Kneg luister, wat in duisternisse wandel en geen ligstraal sien nie? -- laat hy vertrou op die Naam van die HERE en steun op sy God!

11 Kyk, julle almal wat 'n vuur aansteek, wat julle met vuurpyle omgord -- wandel in die vlam van julle vuur en onder die vuurpyle wat julle aangesteek het! Van my hand het dit julle oorgekom; in smart sal julle neerlê.

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.

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.

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

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:

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.