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.