Isaiah

Thus 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.

1The LORD says this: "Where is the paper that says I divorced your mother and sent her away? Which of my lenders did I sell you to? You were sold because of your own sin. Your mother was sent away because of the wrong you did.

NoteIn those days a husband ended a marriage by handing his wife a written paper, and a person deep in debt could be sold to pay it off. God says neither of those things happened here.

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.

2Why was nobody there when I came? Why did no one answer when I called? Is my arm too short to rescue you? Am I too weak to save? When I speak sharply, the sea dries up. I turn rivers into desert. The fish rot and die of thirst because the water is gone.

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

3I dress the sky in black. I cover it with rough mourning cloth."

NoteSackcloth was rough, dark cloth that people wore when they were grieving. Here the sky itself is pictured wearing it.

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.

4The Lord GOD taught me how to speak. He showed me the right word to hold up someone who is worn out. Every morning He wakes me. He opens my ears to listen like a student.

5The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

5The Lord GOD opened my ears, and I did not refuse. I did not turn and walk away.

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.

6I let them hit my back. I let them pull the hair from my face. I did not hide when they mocked me and spit on me.

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.

7The Lord GOD will help me, so I will not be disgraced. That is why I have set my face hard as stone. I know I will not be put to shame.

Note"Confounded" in the old wording does not mean confused. It means shamed in front of everyone.

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.

8The One who will clear my name is close by. So who wants to argue against me? Let us stand face to face. Who says I am guilty? Let him step up 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.

9Look, the Lord GOD will help me. So who can say I am guilty? They will all wear out like old clothes. Moths will chew them to pieces.

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.

10Is anyone here who respects the LORD and listens to His servant? Is anyone walking in the dark with no light at all? Let that person trust the name of the LORD and lean on 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.

11But listen, all of you who start your own fires and circle yourselves with burning sticks. Go ahead, walk by the light of the fire you lit. Here is what you will get from my hand: you will lie down in pain.