1 Thus saith Jehovah: Where is the bill of your mother's divorce, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, through your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.2 Wherefore did I come, and there was no man? I called, and there was none to answer? Is my hand at all shortened that I cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make rivers a wilderness; their fish stink because there is no water, and die for thirst.3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.4 The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of the instructed, that I should know how to succour by a word him that is weary. He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the instructed.5 The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not away back.6 I gave my back to smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.7 But the Lord Jehovah 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.8 He is near that justifieth me: who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is mine adverse party? let him draw near unto me.9 Behold, the Lord Jehovah will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? Behold, they all shall grow old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that hearkeneth to the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, -let him confide in the name of Jehovah, and stay himself upon his God.11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and among the sparks {that} ye have kindled. This shall ye have of my hand: ye shall lie down in sorrow.

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.