1 Thus says Jehovah, 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? For your iniquities have you sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
2 Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver? At my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinks, because there is no water, and dies for thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as the learned.
5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 I gave my back to the those who smite, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair: I have not hidden my face from shame and spitting.
7 For 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.
8 He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? Let us stand together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.
9 the Lord GOD will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Lo, they all shall become old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
10 Who is among you who reverences Jehovah, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and stay upon his God.
11 all you who kindle a fire, that encompass yourselves with firebrands: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This shall you have of my hand; you shall lie down in sorrow.