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
.
Wherefore, 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
.
I clothe the heavens
with blackness
, and I make
sackcloth
their covering
.
The 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
.
The Lord GOD
hath opened
mine ear
, and I was not rebellious
, neither turned away
back
.
I 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
.
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
.
He is near that justifieth
me; who will contend
with me? let us stand
together
: who is mine adversary
? let him come near
to me.
Behold, 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
.
Who 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
.
Behold, 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
.