Thus saith theLORD, Whereisthe bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditorsis itto whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Wherefore, when I came,was thereno man? when I called,was therenone 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, becausethere isno water, and dieth for thirst.
I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.
The LordGODhath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season tohim that isweary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
The LordGODhath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
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.
For the LordGODwill 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.
He isnear that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: whoismine adversary? let him come near to me.
Behold, the LordGODwill help me; whoishethatshall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.
Whoisamong you that feareth theLORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walkethindarkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of theLORD, and stay upon his God.
Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compassyourselvesabout with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparksthatye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.