Isaiah 50

1 This is what the Lord says:

Where is your mother’s divorce certificate

that I used to send her away?  * 50:1 Dt 24:1–3; Jr 3:8

Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?  * 50:1 Dt 32:30; 2Kg 4:1; Neh 5:5

Look, you were sold for your iniquities,  * 50:1 Is 13:11

and your mother was sent away

because of your transgressions.

2 Why was no one there when I came?

Why was there no one to answer when I called?

Is my arm too weak to redeem?  * 50:2 Gn 18:14; Nm 11:23; Is 59:1

Or do I have no power to rescue?

Look, I dry up the sea by my rebuke;  * 50:2 Ex 14:21; Is 43:16; 44:27

I turn the rivers into a wilderness;

their fish rot because of lack of water

and die of thirst.

3 I dress the heavens in black

and make sackcloth their covering.  * 50:3 Rv 6:12

The Obedient Servant

4 The Lord God has given me

the tongue of those who are instructed  * 50:4 Is 8:16; 54:13

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.  * 50:4 Jn 4:34

5 The Lord God has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious;

I did not turn back.  * 50:5 Jn 8:29; 14:31; 15:10; Php 2:8; Heb 5:8

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.  * 50:6 Mt 26:67; 27:26; Mk 14:65; 15:19; Lk 22:63; Jn 19:1–5

7 The Lord God will help me;

therefore I have not been humiliated;

therefore I have set my face like flint,  * 50:7 Ezk 3:8–9

and I know I will not be put to shame.

8 The one who vindicates me is near;  * 50:8 Is 45:25

who will contend with me?

Let us confront each other.  * 50:8 Lit us stand

Who has a case against me?  * 50:8 Lit Who is lord of my judgment

Let him come near me!

9 In truth, the Lord God will help me;

who will condemn me?  * 50:9 Rm 8:33–34

Indeed, all of them will wear out like a garment;

a moth will devour them.  * 50:9 Jb 13:28; Is 51:8; Hs 5:12

10 Who among you fears the  Lord

and listens to his servant?  * 50:10 Is 42:1; 49:3–7; 52:13; 53:11; Ezk 34:23–24; Zch 3:8; Ac 3:13

Who among you walks in darkness,

and has no light?

Let him trust in the name of the  Lord;

let him lean on his God.

11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,

who encircle yourselves with  * 50:11 Syr reads who set ablaze  torches;

walk in the light of your fire

and of the torches you have lit!

This is what you’ll get from my hand:

you will lie down in a place of torment.