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Isaiah 50-51
King James Version
Isaiah 50-51
King James Version
50 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.
51 Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
3 For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.
8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?
10 Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
14 The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
15 But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name.
16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
18 There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.
19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
20 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God.
21 Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:
22 Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:
23 But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.
Isaiah 50-51
1599 Geneva Bible
Isaiah 50-51
1599 Geneva Bible
50 1 The Jews forsaken for a time. 2 Yet the power of God is not diminished. 5 Christ’s obedience and victory.
1 Thus saith the Lord, Where is that [a]bill of your mother’s divorcement, [b]whom I have cast off? or who is the creditor [c]to whom I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities are ye sold, and because of your transgressions is your mother forsaken.
2 [d]Wherefore came I, and there was no man? I called, and none answered: is mine hand so [e]shortened, that it cannot help? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea: I make the floods desert; their fish rotteth for want of water, and dieth for thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with darkness, and make a [f]sack their covering.
4 The Lord God hath given [g]me a tongue of the learned, that I should know to minister a word in time to him that is [h]weary; he will raise me up in the morning, in the morning he will waken mine ear to hear, [i]as the learned.
5 The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned I back.
6 I gave my back unto the [j]smiters, and my cheeks to the nippers: 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 can condemn me? lo, they shall wax old as a garment: the moth shall eat them up.
10 [k]Who is among you that feareth the Lord? let him hear the voice of his servant: he 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 you kindle [l]a fire, and are compassed 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.
51 1 To trust in God alone by Abraham’s example. 7 Not to fear men. 17 The great affliction of Jerusalem, 22 and her deliverance.
1 Hear me [m]ye that follow after righteousness, and ye that seek the Lord: look unto the [n]rock, whence you are hewn, and to the hole of the pit, whence ye are dug.
2 Consider Abraham your father, and Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.
3 Surely the Lord shall comfort Zion: he shall comfort all her desolations, and he shall make her desert [o]like Eden, and her wilderness like the garden of the Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein: praise, and the voice of singing.
4 Hearken ye unto me my people, and give ear unto me, O my people: for a [p]Law shall proceed from me, and I will bring forth my judgment for the light of the people.
5 My [q]righteousness is near: my salvation goeth forth, and mine [r]arm shall judge the people: the isles shall wait for me, and shall trust unto mine arm.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the [s]heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein, shall perish in like manner: but my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.
7 Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my Law. Fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their rebukes.
8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wood: but my righteousness shall be forever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
9 Rise up, Rise up, and put on strength, O arm of the Lord: rise up as [t]in the old time in the generations of the world. Art not thou the same, that hath cut [u]Rahab, and wounded the [v]dragon?
10 Art not thou the same, which hath dried the Sea, even the waters of the great deep, making the depth of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?
11 Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall [w]return, and come with joy unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain joy and gladness: and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
12 I, even I am he that comfort you. Who art thou that thou shouldest fear a mortal man, and the son of man, which shall be made as grass?
13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath spread out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? and hast feared continually all the day, because of the rage of the oppressor, which is ready to destroy? Where is now the rage of the oppressor?
14 The captive [x]hasteneth to be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
15 And I am the Lord thy God that divided the sea, when his waves roared: the Lord of hosts is his Name.
16 And I have put my words in thy [y]mouth, and have defended thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the [z]heavens, and lay the foundation of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.
17 Awake, awake, and stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the [aa]cup of his wrath: thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
18 There is none to guide her among all her sons, whom she hath brought forth: there is none that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.
19 These two [ab]things are come unto thee: who will lament thee? desolation and destruction and famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
20 Thy sons have fainted, and lie at the head of all the streets as a wild bull in a net, and are full of the wrath of the Lord, and rebuke of thy God.
21 Therefore hear now this, thou miserable and drunken, but [ac]not with wine.
22 Thus saith thy Lord God, even God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my wrath: thou shalt drink it no more.
23 But I will put it into their hand that spoil thee, which have said to thy soul, Bow down that we may go over, and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the streets to them that went over.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 50:1 Meaning, that he hath not forsaken her, but through her own occasion, as Hos. 2:2.
- Isaiah 50:1 Which should declare that I have cut her off: meaning, that they could show none.
- Isaiah 50:1 Signifying, that he sold them not for any debt or poverty, but that they sold themselves to sins to buy their own lusts and pleasures.
- Isaiah 50:2 He came by his Prophets and ministers, but they would not believe their doctrine and convert.
- Isaiah 50:2 Am I not able to help you, as I have helped your fathers of old, when I dried up the red Sea, and killed the fish in the rivers, and also afterward in Jordan?
- Isaiah 50:3 As I did in Egypt in token of my displeasure, Exod. 10:21.
- Isaiah 50:4 The Prophet doth represent here the person and charge of them that are justly called to the ministry of God’s word.
- Isaiah 50:4 To him that is oppressed by affliction and misery.
- Isaiah 50:4 As they that are taught, and made meet by him.
- Isaiah 50:6 I did not shrink from God for any persecution or calamity. Whereby he showeth that the true ministers of God can look for none other recompense of the wicked, but after this sort, and also what is their comfort.
- Isaiah 50:10 Showing that it is a rare thing that any should obey aright God’s true ministers, though they labor to bring them from hell to heaven.
- Isaiah 50:11 You have sought consolation by your own devices, and have refused the light, and consolation which God hath offered: therefore ye shall remain in sorrow, and not be comforted.
- Isaiah 51:1 He comforteth the Church, that they should not be discouraged for their small number.
- Isaiah 51:1 That is, to Abraham, of whom ye were begotten, and to Sarah, of whom we were born.
- Isaiah 51:3 As plentiful as Paradise, Gen. 2:8.
- Isaiah 51:4 I will rule and govern my Church by my word and doctrine.
- Isaiah 51:5 The time that I will accomplish my promise.
- Isaiah 51:5 My power and strength.
- Isaiah 51:6 He forewarneth them of the horrible changes and mutations of all things, and how he will preserve his church in the midst of all these dangers.
- Isaiah 51:9 He putteth them in remembrance of his great benefit for their deliverance out of Egypt, that thereby they might learn to trust in him constantly.
- Isaiah 51:9 Meaning, Egypt, Ps. 87:4.
- Isaiah 51:9 To wit, Pharaoh, Ezek. 29:3.
- Isaiah 51:11 From Babylon.
- Isaiah 51:14 He comforteth them by the short time of their banishment: for in seventy years they were restored, and the greatest empire of the world destroyed.
- Isaiah 51:16 Meaning, of Isaiah, and of all true ministers, who are defended by his protection.
- Isaiah 51:16 That all things may be restored in heaven and earth, Eph. 1:10.
- Isaiah 51:17 Thou hast been justly punished and sufficiently as Isa. 40:2, and this punishment in the elect is by measure, and according as God giveth grace to bear it: but in the reprobate it is the just vengeance of God to drive them to an insensibleness and madness, as Jer. 25:15, 16.
- Isaiah 51:19 Whereof the one is outward, as of the things that come to the body, as war, and famine, and the other is inward, and appertaineth to the mind: that is, to be without comfort: therefore he saith, How shalt thou be comforted?
- Isaiah 51:21 But with trouble and fear.
Isaiah 50-51
New International Version
Isaiah 50-51
New International Version
Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience
50 This is what the Lord says:
“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce(A)
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
did I sell(B) you?
Because of your sins(C) you were sold;(D)
because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
2 When I came, why was there no one?
When I called, why was there no one to answer?(E)
Was my arm too short(F) to deliver you?
Do I lack the strength(G) to rescue you?
By a mere rebuke(H) I dry up the sea,(I)
I turn rivers into a desert;(J)
their fish rot for lack of water
and die of thirst.
3 I clothe the heavens with darkness(K)
and make sackcloth(L) its covering.”
4 The Sovereign Lord(M) has given me a well-instructed tongue,(N)
to know the word that sustains the weary.(O)
He wakens me morning by morning,(P)
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.(Q)
5 The Sovereign Lord(R) has opened my ears;(S)
I have not been rebellious,(T)
I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat(U) me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;(V)
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.(W)
7 Because the Sovereign Lord(X) helps(Y) me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,(Z)
and I know I will not be put to shame.(AA)
8 He who vindicates(AB) me is near.(AC)
Who then will bring charges against me?(AD)
Let us face each other!(AE)
Who is my accuser?
Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord(AF) who helps(AG) me.
Who will condemn(AH) me?
They will all wear out like a garment;
the moths(AI) will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears(AJ) the Lord
and obeys(AK) the word of his servant?(AL)
Let the one who walks in the dark,
who has no light,(AM)
trust(AN) in the name of the Lord
and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires
and provide yourselves with flaming torches,(AO)
go, walk in the light of your fires(AP)
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:(AQ)
You will lie down in torment.(AR)
Everlasting Salvation for Zion
51 “Listen(AS) to me, you who pursue righteousness(AT)
and who seek(AU) the Lord:
Look to the rock(AV) from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
2 look to Abraham,(AW) your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many.(AX)
3 The Lord will surely comfort(AY) Zion(AZ)
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;(BA)
he will make her deserts like Eden,(BB)
her wastelands(BC) like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness(BD) will be found in her,
thanksgiving(BE) and the sound of singing.
4 “Listen to me, my people;(BF)
hear me,(BG) my nation:
Instruction(BH) will go out from me;
my justice(BI) will become a light to the nations.(BJ)
5 My righteousness draws near speedily,
my salvation(BK) is on the way,(BL)
and my arm(BM) will bring justice to the nations.
The islands(BN) will look to me
and wait in hope(BO) for my arm.
6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
look at the earth beneath;
the heavens will vanish like smoke,(BP)
the earth will wear out like a garment(BQ)
and its inhabitants die like flies.
But my salvation(BR) will last forever,(BS)
my righteousness will never fail.(BT)
7 “Hear me, you who know what is right,(BU)
you people who have taken my instruction to heart:(BV)
Do not fear the reproach of mere mortals
or be terrified by their insults.(BW)
8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment;(BX)
the worm(BY) will devour them like wool.
But my righteousness will last forever,(BZ)
my salvation through all generations.”
9 Awake, awake,(CA) arm(CB) of the Lord,
clothe yourself with strength!(CC)
Awake, as in days gone by,
as in generations of old.(CD)
Was it not you who cut Rahab(CE) to pieces,
who pierced that monster(CF) through?
10 Was it not you who dried up the sea,(CG)
the waters of the great deep,(CH)
who made a road in the depths of the sea(CI)
so that the redeemed(CJ) might cross over?
11 Those the Lord has rescued(CK) will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;(CL)
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy(CM) will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.(CN)
12 “I, even I, am he who comforts(CO) you.
Who are you that you fear(CP) mere mortals,(CQ)
human beings who are but grass,(CR)
13 that you forget(CS) the Lord your Maker,(CT)
who stretches out the heavens(CU)
and who lays the foundations of the earth,
that you live in constant terror(CV) every day
because of the wrath of the oppressor,
who is bent on destruction?
For where is the wrath of the oppressor?(CW)
14 The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;(CX)
they will not die in their dungeon,
nor will they lack bread.(CY)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea(CZ) so that its waves roar(DA)—
the Lord Almighty(DB) is his name.
16 I have put my words in your mouth(DC)
and covered you with the shadow of my hand(DD)—
I who set the heavens in place,
who laid the foundations of the earth,(DE)
and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.(DF)’”
The Cup of the Lord’s Wrath
17 Awake, awake!(DG)
Rise up, Jerusalem,
you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord
the cup(DH) of his wrath,(DI)
you who have drained to its dregs(DJ)
the goblet that makes people stagger.(DK)
18 Among all the children(DL) she bore
there was none to guide her;(DM)
among all the children she reared
there was none to take her by the hand.(DN)
19 These double calamities(DO) have come upon you—
who can comfort you?(DP)—
ruin and destruction,(DQ) famine(DR) and sword(DS)—
who can[a] console you?
20 Your children have fainted;
they lie at every street corner,(DT)
like antelope caught in a net.(DU)
They are filled with the wrath(DV) of the Lord,
with the rebuke(DW) of your God.
21 Therefore hear this, you afflicted(DX) one,
made drunk,(DY) but not with wine.
22 This is what your Sovereign Lord says,
your God, who defends(DZ) his people:
“See, I have taken out of your hand
the cup(EA) that made you stagger;
from that cup, the goblet of my wrath,
you will never drink again.
23 I will put it into the hands of your tormentors,(EB)
who said to you,
‘Fall prostrate(EC) that we may walk(ED) on you.’
And you made your back like the ground,
like a street to be walked on.”(EE)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 51:19 Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac; Masoretic Text / how can I
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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