God Helps His Servant

50 This is what the Lord says:

“Where is the (A)certificate of divorce
By which I have (B)sent your mother away?
Or to whom of My creditors did I (C)sell you?
Behold, you were sold for your (D)wrongdoings,
And for your (E)wrongful acts your mother (F)was sent away.
Why was there (G)no one when I came?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?
Is My (H)hand so short that it cannot redeem?
Or do I have no power to rescue?
Behold, I (I)dry up the sea with My rebuke,
I (J)turn rivers into a wilderness;
Their fish stink for lack of water,
And die of thirst.
I (K)clothe the heavens with blackness,
And make sackcloth their covering.”

The Lord [a]God has given Me the tongue of (L)disciples,
So that I may know how to (M)sustain the weary one with a word.
He awakens Me (N)morning by morning,
He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.
The Lord God has (O)opened My ear,
And I was (P)not disobedient,
Nor did I turn back.
I (Q)gave My back to those who strike Me,
And My cheeks to those who pull out My beard;
I did not hide My face from insults and spitting.
For the Lord God (R)helps Me,
Therefore, I am (S)not disgraced;
Therefore, I have made My face like (T)flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
He who (U)vindicates Me is near;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us (V)stand up to each other.
Who has a case against Me?
Let him approach Me.
Behold, (W)the Lord God helps Me;
(X)Who is he who condemns Me?
Behold, (Y)they will all wear out like a garment;
A moth will eat them.
10 Who is among you who fears the Lord,
Who obeys the voice of His (Z)servant,
Who (AA)walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him (AB)trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who (AC)kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with flaming arrows,
Walk in the light of your fire
And among the flaming arrows you have set ablaze.
This you will have from My hand:
You will (AD)lie down in torment.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 50:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch

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)