1-3 Dios dijo:
«Israelitas,
cuando vine a buscarlos,
no los encontré;
cuando los llamé,
no me respondieron.
Yo no los abandoné,
ni los vendí como esclavos
para pagar deudas;
lo hice por causa de sus pecados.
»Pero tengo el poder
para salvarlos y rescatarlos.
Yo cubro los cielos de oscuridad
como si se vistieran de luto.
Basta una simple orden mía
para que el mar y los ríos se sequen,
para que por falta de agua
los peces se mueran y se pudran».
4 El fiel servidor dijo:
«Dios me enseñó a consolar
a los que están afligidos y cansados.
Me despierta todas las mañanas,
para que reciba sus enseñanzas
como todo buen discípulo.
5 Dios me enseñó a obedecer,
y no he sido rebelde ni desobediente.
6 »No quité mi espalda
a los que me golpeaban,
ni escondí mis mejillas
de los que me arrancaban la barba;
ni me cubrí la cara
cuando me escupían
y se burlaban de mí.
7 »Por eso, no seré humillado,
pues es Dios quien me ayuda.
Por eso me mantengo firme
como si fuera una roca,
y sé que no seré avergonzado.
8 »Conmigo está el que me protege.
Nadie puede acusarme de un delito.
El que quiera acusarme,
¡que venga y se me enfrente!
9 ¡El Dios todopoderoso
es quien me ayuda!
Nadie podrá condenarme.
Mis enemigos desaparecerán
como la ropa comida por la polilla.
10 »Ninguno de ustedes teme a Dios
ni obedece la voz de su fiel servidor.
Caminan en la oscuridad,
sin un rayo de luz,
no confían en el único Dios.
11 Al contrario,
encienden fuegos y prenden antorchas;
caminan a la luz de su propio fuego.
Pero el Dios todopoderoso
los castigará y los hará sufrir».
1 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.