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.