¹ So says the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, who I have put away ? or which of my creditors is it to who I have sold you? See, for your iniquities have you sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. ² why, 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 ? see, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dies 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 learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakes morning by morning, he wakes my ear to hear as the learned. 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 them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. ⁷ For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore will I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. ⁸ He is near that justifies me who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary ? let him come near to me. ⁹ See, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that will condemn me? lo, they all will grow old as a garment; the moth will eat them up. ¹⁰ Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and has no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay on his God. ¹¹ See, all you that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that you have kindled. This will you have of mine hand; you will lie down in sorrow.