1. Thus saith the Lord, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities ye are sold, and for your rebellions was your mother put away,
2. for I came, and no one showed himself; I called, and no one answered. 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 stink because there is no water and die for thirst.
3. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
4. The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the wise that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary; he wakes up early, early shall he awaken my ear, that I might hear, as the wise.
5. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
6. I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to those that plucked off the hair: I did not hide my face from shame and spitting.
7. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore, I was not ashamed; therefore, I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
8. He is near that justifies me; who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is my adversary? let him come near to me.