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Israel Was Punished for Its Sin

50 This is what the Lord says :

“People of Israel, you say I ·divorced [L sent away] your mother.
    Then where is the certificate of divorce that proves it?
Or ·do you think I sold you to pay a debt [L to which of my creditors did I sell you]?
Because of ·the evil things you did [your sins/iniquities], I sold you.
    Because of ·the times she turned against me [your transgressions], your mother was sent away.
·I came home and found [L Why, when I came, did I find…?] no one there;
    I called, but no one answered.
·Do you think I am not able [L Is my hand too short] to ·save [redeem] you [59:1]?
    Do I not have the power to save you?
·Look [T Behold], ·I need only to shout and [L With my rebuke] the sea becomes dry [Ex. 14:21].
    I change rivers into a desert [Josh. 3:16],
and their fish rot because there is no water;
    they die of thirst.
I can ·make the skies dark [L clothe the skies/heavens in darkness; Rev. 6:12];
    I can make ·them black like clothes of sadness [L sackcloth their covering].”

God’s Servant Obeys

The Lord God gave me the ·ability to teach [L tongue of a student/learned one]
    so that I know what to say to make the ·weak [weary] strong.
Every morning he wakes me.
    He ·teaches me [L awakens my ear] to listen like a student [C this passage (50:4–11) is the third of four “servant songs” in Isaiah; see 42:1].
The Lord God ·helps me learn [or speaks clearly to me; L has opened my ear],
    and I have not ·turned against him [rebelled]
    nor ·stopped following him [turned away/back].
I offered my back to those who beat me.
    I offered my cheeks to those who ·pulled [ripped out] my beard.
I ·won’t [or did not] hide my face from them
    when they ·make fun of [mocked; insulted; shamed] me and spit at me [53:5; Matt. 26:67; 27:26; Mark 15:19; Luke 22:63].
The Lord God helps me,
    so I will not be ·ashamed [disgraced].
I ·will be determined [L have set my face like flint; Ezek. 3:8–9],
    and I know I will not be ·disgraced [put to shame].
He ·shows that I am innocent [vindicates], and he is ·close to me [near].
    So who can ·accuse me [bring charges against me; Rom. 8:33–34]?
    If there is someone, let us ·go to court [L stand up] together.
·If someone wants to prove I have done wrong [L Who are my accusers?],
    he should ·come and tell [challenge; L come near] me.
Look! It is the Lord God who helps me.
    So who can ·prove me guilty [condemn me]?
Look! All those who try will ·become useless like old clothes [wear out like a garment];
    moths will eat them.

10 Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys his servant?
The person who walks in the dark without light
    should trust in the [L name of the] Lord and depend on his God.
11 ·But instead [or Look; Behold], ·some of you want to [L all of you who] light your own fires
    and make your own light.
So, go, walk in the light of your fires,
    and trust ·your own light to guide you [the torches you have ignited].
But this is what you will receive from ·me [my hand]:
    You will lie down in ·a place of pain [torment; C could refer to physical pain in the present world or to the torment of hell].

Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce(A)
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
    did I sell(B) you?
Because of your sins(C) you were sold;(D)
    because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
When I came, why was there no one?
    When I called, why was there no one to answer?(E)
Was my arm too short(F) to deliver you?
    Do I lack the strength(G) to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke(H) I dry up the sea,(I)
    I turn rivers into a desert;(J)
their fish rot for lack of water
    and die of thirst.
I clothe the heavens with darkness(K)
    and make sackcloth(L) its covering.”

The Sovereign Lord(M) has given me a well-instructed tongue,(N)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.(O)
He wakens me morning by morning,(P)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.(Q)
The Sovereign Lord(R) has opened my ears;(S)
    I have not been rebellious,(T)
    I have not turned away.
I offered my back to those who beat(U) me,
    my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;(V)
I did not hide my face
    from mocking and spitting.(W)
Because the Sovereign Lord(X) helps(Y) me,
    I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,(Z)
    and I know I will not be put to shame.(AA)
He who vindicates(AB) me is near.(AC)
    Who then will bring charges against me?(AD)
    Let us face each other!(AE)
Who is my accuser?
    Let him confront me!
It is the Sovereign Lord(AF) who helps(AG) me.
    Who will condemn(AH) me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
    the moths(AI) will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears(AJ) the Lord
    and obeys(AK) the word of his servant?(AL)
Let the one who walks in the dark,
    who has no light,(AM)
trust(AN) in the name of the Lord
    and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
    and provide yourselves with flaming torches,(AO)
go, walk in the light of your fires(AP)
    and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:(AQ)
    You will lie down in torment.(AR)