Isaiah 50

Modern

Literal

Israel’s Sin

¹This is what the LORD says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce

with which I sent her away?

Or to which of My creditors

did I sell you?

Look, you were sold for your iniquities,

and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

¹Thus says YHWH: “Where is this certificate of divorce of your mother, whom I have sent away? Or which of My creditors—whom did I sell you to him? Behold, by your iniquities you have sold yourselves, and by your transgressions your mother has been sent away.

²Why was no one there when I arrived?

Why did no one answer when I called?

Is My hand too short to redeem you?

Or do I lack the strength to deliver you?

Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea;

I turn the rivers into a desert;

the fish rot for lack of water

and die of thirst.

²Why, did I come, and there was no man? Why did I call, and there was no one answering? Is My hand too short to redeem? Or is there not in Me power to deliver? Behold, by My rebuke I dry up the sea; I make the rivers a desert—their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

³I clothe the heavens in black

and make sackcloth their covering.”

³I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.”

The Servant’s Obedience

⁴The Lord GOD has given Me

the tongue of discipleship,

to sustain the weary with a word.

He awakens Me morning by morning;

He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

⁴The Lord YHWH has given to me the tongue of the learned, knowing to help the weary with a word. He awakens me morning by morning; He awakens for me the ear to hear like the learned ones.

⁵The Lord GOD has opened My ears,

and I have not been rebellious,

nor have I turned back.

⁵The Lord YHWH has opened for me the ear, and I have not been rebellious; and I have not turned back.

⁶I offered My back to those who struck Me,

and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard.

I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

⁶I gave My back to those striking, and My cheeks to those plucking out; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

⁷Because the Lord GOD helps Me,

I have not been disgraced;

therefore I have set My face like flint,

and I know that I will not be put to shame.

⁷And the Lord YHWH will give help to me; upon thus I have not been disgraced; upon thus I have set my face like flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame.

⁸The One who vindicates Me is near.

Who will dare to contend with Me?

Let us confront each other!

Who has a case against Me?

Let him approach Me!

⁸The One vindicating me is near—who will contend with Me? Let us stand against one another! Who is the master of my case? Let him come near to me!

⁹Surely the Lord GOD helps Me.

Who is there to condemn Me?

See, they will all wear out like a garment;

the moths will devour them.

⁹Behold, the Lord YHWH gives help to me. Who is he who will condemn Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment, the moth will devour them.

¹⁰Who among you fears the LORD

and obeys the voice of His Servant?

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.

¹⁰Who among you fears YHWH, listening to the voice of His Servant, who has walked in darkness, and there is no no brightness unto him? Let him trust in the name of YHWH, and lean on his God.

¹¹Behold, all you who kindle a fire,

who array yourselves with firebrands,

walk in the light of your fire

and of the firebrands you have lit!

This is what you will receive from My hand:

You will lie down in a place of torment.

¹¹Behold, all of you kindling a fire, girding on firebrands—walk in the light of your fire, and of the firebrands you have kindled! This is for you from My hand; you will lie down in a place of torment.