The Servant, Israel’s Hope
1 Thus says theLord:
# “Whereisthe certificate of your mother’s divorce,
Whom I have put away?
# Or which of Mycreditorsisitto whom I have sold you?
# For your iniquitiesyou have sold yourselves,
And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.
2 Why, when I came,wasthereno man?
Why,when I called,wastherenone to answer?
Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?
# Indeed with Myrebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink becausethereisno water,
And die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness,
# And I make sackcloth their covering.”
4 “TheLordGodhas given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
# A word in season tohimwhoisweary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
5 The LordGodhas opened My ear;
# And I was notrebellious,
Nor did I turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struckMe,
# AndMy cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
# I did not hide My face from shame andspitting.
7 “For the LordGodwill help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
# ThereforeI have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 Heisnear who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
WhoisMy adversary?
Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the LordGodwill help Me;
Whoishewhowill condemn Me?
# Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;
# The moth will eat them up.
10 “Who among you fears theLord?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
# Whowalks in darkness
And has no light?
# Let him trust in the name of theLord
And rely upon his God.
11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircleyourselveswith sparks:
Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—
# This you shall have from My hand:
# You shall lie downin torment.