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.