 1 Thus says the Lord, Where is your mother's bill of divorce, whom I have put away? Or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, and your mother is put away for your sins. 2 Who knows why I have come and no one is here? I called and no one answered. Is my hand shortened at all so 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 they 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 learned to know and to help the weary with a word. He awakens morning by morning, He awakens the ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear. I was not rebellious nor turned away backwards. 6 I gave my back to the strikers and my cheeks to pluckers. I did not hide my face from shame and spitting. 7 The Lord God will help me. Therefore I have not been ashamed. On account of this I have set my face like a flint and I know that I will not be ashamed. 8 He is near who justifies me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is master of my judgment? Let him come near me. 9 Behold, the Lord God will help me. Who is he who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment. The moth will eat them. 10 Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rest on his God. 11 Behold, all of you who kindle a fire, who are surrounded with sparks. Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that you have kindled. For this, you shall have of my hand and you will lie down in sorrow.
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