1Thus saith the LORD , Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement , whom I have put away ? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away . 2Wherefore, when I came , was there no man ? when I called , was there none to answer ? Is my hand shortened at all , that it cannot redeem ? or have I no power to deliver ? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea , I make the rivers a wilderness : their fish stinketh , because there is no water , and dieth for thirst . 3I clothe the heavens with blackness , and I make sackcloth their covering .
God's Sovereignty and Deliverance
4The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned , that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary : he wakeneth morning by morning , he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned . 5The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear , and I was not rebellious , neither turned away back . 6I gave my back to the smiters , and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting . 7For the Lord GOD 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 . 8He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together : who is mine adversary ? let him come near to me. 9Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment ; the moth shall eat them up .
The Response of the Servant
10Who is among you that feareth the LORD , that obeyeth the voice of his servant , that walketh in darkness , and hath no light ? let him trust in the name of the LORD , and stay upon his God . 11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire , that compass yourselves about with sparks : walk in the light of your fire , and in the sparks that ye have kindled . This shall ye have of mine hand ; ye shall lie down in sorrow .