The Servant’s Obedience
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 you 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.
