1 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.
2 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.
3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4 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.
5 The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6 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.
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 justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.

1Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mothers diuorcement, whom I haue put away? or which of my creditours is it to whom I haue sold you? Behold, for your iniquities haue you solde your selues, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

2Wherefore when I came was there no man? when I called, was there none to answere? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeeme? or haue I no power to deliuer? Beholde, at my rebuke I drie vp the sea: I make the riuers a wildernes: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

3I clothe the heauens with blackenesse, and I make sackcloth their couering.

4The Lord God hath giuen me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speake a worde in season to him that is wearie: hee wakeneth morning by morning, hee wakeneth mine eare to heare as the learned.

5 The Lord God hath opened mine eare, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backe.

6I gaue my backe to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the haire: I hidde not my face from shame and spitting.

7 For the Lord God will helpe me, therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore haue I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not bee ashamed.

8He is neere that iustifieth me, who will contend with me? let vs stand together: who is mine aduersarie? let him come neere to me.

9Behold, the Lord God wil helpe me, who is he that shall condemne mee? Loe, they all shall waxe olde as a garment: the moth shall eate them vp.

10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voyce of his seruant, that walketh in darkenesse and hath no light? let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay vpon his God.

11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compasse your selues about with sparks: walke in the light of your fire, and in the sparkes that ye haue kindled. This shall ye haue of mine hand, yee shall lie downe in sorrow.

I == Deut 24:1 ; Jer 3:8 ; Matt 18:25

 

 

II == Ex 7:18 , 21 ; 14:21 ; Josh 3:16 ; Nah 1:4

 

 

 

 

 

III == Ex 10:21 ; Rev 6:12

IV == Ex 4:11 ; Matt 11:28

 

 

 

V == Ps 40:6-8 ; Matt 26:39 ; John 14:31 ; Phil 2:8 ; Heb 10:5

VI == Lam 3:30 ; Matt 26:67 ; 27:26 ; John 18:22

VII == Ezek 3:8-9

 

VIII == Rom 8:32-34

 

 

IX == Job 13:28 ; Ps 102:26 ; Isa 51:6 , 8

X == 2nd Chr 20:20 ; Ps 20:7 ; 23:4

 

 

XI == Ps 16:4 ; John 9:39

1 Thus says the LORD: Where is the bill of divorce with which I dismissed your mother? Or to which of my creditors have I sold you? It was for your sins that you were sold, for your crimes that your mother was dismissed.

2 Why was no one there when I came? Why did no one answer when I called? Is my hand too short to ransom? Have I not the strength to deliver? Lo, with my rebuke I dry up the sea, I turn rivers into a desert; Their fish rot for lack of water, and die of thirst.

3 I clothe the heavens in mourning, and make sackcloth their vesture.

4 The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear;

5 And I have not rebelled, have not turned back.

6 I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

7 The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

8 He is near who upholds my right; if anyone wishes to oppose me, let us appear together. Who disputes my right? Let him confront me.

9 See, the Lord GOD is my help; who will prove me wrong? Lo, they will all wear out like cloth, the moth will eat them up.

10 Who among you fears the LORD, heeds his servant's voice, And walks in darkness without any light, Trusting in the name of the LORD and relying on his God?

11 All of you kindle flames and carry about you fiery darts; Walk by the light of your own fire and by the flares you have burnt! This is your fate from my hand: you shall lie down in a place of pain.

v 1-3. God sending Israel into captivity was like giving her a temporary divorce, or like sons being sold as indentured servants until the bill was paid. Their rejection was foolish, because He had power over all nature and could care for them.

 

 

 

 

v 4-6. Christ’s ear was open to the need of the people and the command of God. V 6 describes the agony and humiliation He suffered before He was crucified.
Though Isaiah suffered and was a martyr, these things speak of Christ.

 

 

v 7-9. It might seem that Christ was being defeated at that time, but he was set like flint for obedience, and the Father would eventually justify Him as judge over enemies.

 

 

 

v 10,11. Isaiah is directing this admonition to those with him to trust the Lord. But he indicates that all who reject the Lord will have eternal torment.