Isaiah 50 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Chapter 50

Salvation Through the Lord’s Servant

1 Thus says the Lord:
Where is the bill of divorce
with which I dismissed your mother?[a]
Or to which of my creditors
have I sold you?
It was for your sins you were sold,
for your rebellions your mother was dismissed.(A)

2 Why was no one there when I came?
Why did no one answer when I called?[b]
Is my hand too short to ransom?
Have I not the strength to deliver?
See, with my rebuke I dry up the sea,
I turn rivers into wilderness;
Their fish rot for lack of water,
and die of thirst.(B)
3 I clothe the heavens in black,
and make sackcloth their covering.

4 [c]The Lord God has given me
a well-trained tongue,
That I might know how to answer the weary
a word that will waken them.
Morning after morning
he wakens my ear to hear as disciples do;
5 The Lord God opened my ear;
I did not refuse,
did not turn away.[d]
6 I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who tore out my beard;[e]
My face I did not hide
from insults and spitting.(C)

7 The Lord God is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
Therefore I have set my face like flint,
knowing that I shall not be put to shame.(D)
8 He who declares my innocence is near.
Who will oppose me?
Let us appear together.
Who will dispute my right?
Let them confront me.
9 See, the Lord God is my help;
who will declare me guilty?
See, they will all wear out like a garment,
consumed by moths.(E)
10 Who among you fears the Lord,[f]
heeds his servant’s voice?
Whoever walk in darkness,
without any light,
Yet trust in the name of the Lord
and rely upon their God!(F)
11 All you who kindle flames
and set flares alight,
Walk by the light of your own fire
and by the flares you have burnt!
This is your fate from my hand:
you shall lie down in a place of torment.

Footnotes

  1. 50:1 Responding to the people’s complaint of utter abandonment by God, the prophet asserts that their sins were responsible for their banishment. Since there was no bill of divorce, the bond between the Lord and his people still exists and he has the power to deliver them (v. 2).
  2. 50:2 Israel’s faith in God is weak; the people do not answer God’s call, nor believe promises of deliverance.
  3. 50:4–11 The third of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4); in vv. 4–9 the servant speaks; in vv. 10–11 God addresses the people directly.
  4. 50:5 The servant, like a well-trained disciple, does not refuse the divine vocation.
  5. 50:6 He willingly submits to insults and beatings. Tore out my beard: a grave and painful insult.
  6. 50:10–11 The Lord offers a choice to those who walk in darkness: either trust in the true light (v. 10), or walk in their false light and suffer the consequences.

Cross references

  1. 50:1 : Is 54:6–8; Dt 24:1–4; Mt 19:3; Mk 10:2–4.
  2. 50:2 : Ex 7:18; Ps 105:29.
  3. 50:6 : 2 Sm 10:4–6; Mt 26:67; 27:30.
  4. 50:7 : Ez 3:9.
  5. 50:9 : Is 51:6–8; Ps 102:27.
  6. 50:10 : Is 43:1–2; 44:1–2.

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50 Thus said Jehovah: `Where [is] this -- the bill of your mother's divorce, Whom I sent away? Or to which of My creditors have I sold you? Lo, for your iniquities ye have been sold, And for your transgressions Hath your mother been sent away. 2 Wherefore have I come, and there is no one? I called, ...
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Isaiah 50 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

50 The Lord saith these things, What is this book of forsaking of your mother, by which I let go her? either who is he, to whom I owe, to whom I sold you? [or whom is my creancer (or who is my creditor), to whom I sold you?] For lo! ye be sold for your wickednesses, and for your great trespasses I l...
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Isaiah 50 - World English Bible (WEB)

50 Yahweh says, “Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce, with which I have put her away? Or to which of my creditors have I sold you?Behold, you were sold for your iniquities, and your mother was put away for your transgressions.2 Why, when I came, was there no one? When I called, why was there ...
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Isaiah 50 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Isaiah 50 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

50 Thus says Adonai:“Where is the divorce certificate, by which I sent your mother away?Or to whom of My creditors did I sell you?See, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.2 Why was no one there when I came?Why was there no one to answer when I cal...
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Isaiah 50 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

50 Thus says the Lord:“Where is your mother’s bill of divorce, with which I put her away?Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you?Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away.2 Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was the...
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Isaiah 50 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

50 Thus says the Lord:“Where is your mother’s bill of divorce, with which I put her away?Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you?Behold, for your iniquities you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away.2 Why, when I came, was there no man? When I called, was the...
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Isaiah 50 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

50 Thus says the Lord:Where is your mother’s bill of divorce with which I put her away?Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you?No, because of your sins you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away.2 Why was no one there when I came? Why did no one answer when I ...
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Isaiah 50 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

50 Thus says the Lord:Where is your mother’s bill of divorce with which I dismissed her?Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you?No, because of your sins you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was dismissed.(A)2 Why was no one there when I came? Why did no one answer wh...
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Isaiah 50 - New Living Translation (NLT)

50 This is what the Lord says:“Was your mother sent away because I divorced her? Did I sell you as slaves to my creditors?No, you were sold because of your sins. And your mother, too, was taken because of your sins.2 Why was no one there when I came? Why didn’t anyone answer when I called?Is it beca...
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Isaiah 50 - New Life Version (NLV)

Israel’s Hope50 The Lord says, “Where is the writing of your mother’s divorce, by which I have sent her away? To whom of those who owed Me money did I sell you? See, you were sold for your sins. For your wrong-doing your mother was sent away. 2 Why was there no man when I came? When I called, why w...
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Isaiah 50 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Servant, Israel’s Hope50 Thus says the Lord:“Where is (A)the certificate of your mother’s divorce,Whom I have put away?Or which of My (B)creditors is it to whom I have sold you?For your iniquities (C)you have sold yourselves,And for your transgressions your mother has been put away.2 Why, when I...
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Isaiah 50 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Israel’s sin and the servant’s obedience50 This is what the Lord says:‘Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away?Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?Because of your sins you were sold; because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.2 When I came, why w...
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Isaiah 50 - New International Version (NIV)

Israel’s Sin and the Servant’s Obedience50 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...
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Isaiah 50 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Israel Sins but the Lord’s Servant Obeys50 The Lord says to the people in Jerusalem,“Do you think I divorced your people who lived before you? Is that why I sent them away?If it is, show me the letter of divorce. I did not sell you into slavery to pay someone I owe.You were sold because you sinned a...
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Isaiah 50 - New English Translation (NET)

50 This is what the Lord says:“Where is your mother’s divorce certificateby which I divorced her?Or to which of my creditors did I sell you?[a]Look, you were sold because of your sins;[b]because of your rebellious acts I divorced your mother.[c]2 Why does no one challenge me when I come?Why does no ...
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